The High Court of Karnataka has refused to interfere with handing over of four elephants, which were in the custody of the Mysuru royal family, to a non-profit rescue and rehabilitation facility run by an elephant welfare trust in Gujarat for taking care of these animals.
However, the court directed the Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust, Jamnagar in Gujarat, to ensure proper care and facilities to these animals as well as to the new elephants that may be shifted to its rehabilitation facilities in future. The rehabilitation facilities, set up for taking caring of old-aged, diseased and rescued elephants, already has 153 elephants.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Ashok S. Kinagi passed the order while disposing of a PIL petition filed by Muruly M.S., a city-based advocate. The petitioner had questioned the legality of handing over of elephants to the trust.
