Gauhati High Court Passes Obligation To PCCF And Chief Wildlife Warden

Transportation of elephants from Assam to Gujarat

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The division bench of the Gauhati High Court hearing the PIL (39/19) seeking the court’s intervention in the decision to transport six elephants from Tinsukia to Gujarat has passed the ‘obligation’ to the State Principal Chief Conservator (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden.

The High Court passed the order on Tuesday. The bench expressed that it is ill-fit to make any comment as to in what manner the elephants are to be transported. It, however, said that before any such steps are taken the relevant circumstances have to be taken into consideration as the safety of the elephants is of paramount importance and this aspect has to be considered and be left to the experts. The bench passed this obligation to the Principal Chief Conservator (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam. The division bench is of the opinion that the Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam shall pass a fresh order considering all aspects of the transport of the elephants.

The bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice (acting) Arup Kumar Goswami and Justice Manish Choudhury disposed of the PIL. The PIL sought intervention of the High Court in regard to the decision of the State Government taken to transport on lease for six months four elephants from Tinsukia in upper Assam to Ahmedabad in Gujarat for participating in the annual Rath Yatra festival to be held from July 4, 2019.

The Additional Advocate General, Assam submitted that air conditioned wagons for the transport of the elephants are not available as communicated to him by the standing counsel of the Railways. The bench directed that fresh orders may be passed on or before June 27, 2019 and the copy of the said order be furnished to Mr. Bhaskar Dev Konwar, senior Advocate for the petitioners on the day itself of passing of the order.

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