Order of the High Court of Kerala regarding care of elephants by Guruvayoor Devaswom, 17/02/2025
Order of the High Court of Kerala in the matter of Sangita Iyer Vs Guruvayur Devasom & Others dated 17/02/2025.
The Kerala High Court directed the Deputy Administrator (Livestock) of Guruvayoor Devaswom to file a detailed affidavit explaining the procedures being followed in Guruvayur Devaswom for booking and transporting elephants from Punnathur Aanakkotta in connection with temple festivals in other temples, and also to ensure that the elephants are provided with the required quantity of feed, as per the statutory requirements, when they are outside Punnathur Aanakkotta.
The HC was considering the death of three persons on February 13, 2025 during the temple festival in Manakkulangara temple, Koyilandi, Kozhikode district, caused by two elephants becoming violent due to the burning of firecrackers. The two elephants, named, Gokul and Peethambaran, that became violent belonged to Guruvayoor Devaswom and were transported from Punnathur Anakotta at Guruvayoor to Koyilandy for the temple festival.
The Veterinary Surgeon, Guruvayur Devaswom was directed to submit a report regarding the incident that happened on February 13 at Manakkulangara temple, Koyilandi with specific reference to the injuries sustained by the elephants of Guruvayur Devaswom.