Elephant rearing: HC asks govt to halt issuing, renewing licences

The High Court today issued a stay on government action regarding the issuance or renewal of licenses for privately owning and raising elephants.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why issuing fresh elephant rearing licences and renewing existing licences causing cruelty to, and torturing of, elephants by elephant owners, trainers and others, for the purposes of performing in circuses/various social events or for street extortion should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities to show causes why a direction should not be issued to prevent torture of elephants in the name of training.

The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation, a non-profit organisation working on animal rights issues, and Jaya Ahsan, a film actress, seeking necessary directives.

They submitted the petition as public interest litigation to the HC on February 18 challenging the failure of the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to prevent illegal and unnecessary torture of elephants in the name of training, and the unnecessary usage of elephants in circuses and various social events and for street extortion.

In the petition, they sought its directive on the government to prevent torture of elephants in the name of training, and unnecessary usage of elephants in circuses and various social events and for street extortion.

They also urged the HC to order the government to stop issuing new elephant-rearing licenses and renewing existing licenses under Sections 11 and 24 of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 and rules 5 and 6 of the Deer and Elephant Rearing Rules, 2017.

Barrister Saqeb Mahbub appeared for the writ petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta represented the state during hearing on the petition.