Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan declined to entertain the appeal at the admission stage itself. The court wondered why the department was so keen not to give back the elephants to the Mutt even after six years. To that, the Additional Advocate General (AAG) replied that the health condition of the elephants was not conducive and relied upon the report of a medical examination conducted after the single judge’s orde
[26/01, 09:12] Sekarreporter: ”
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Tamil Nadu: Madras High Court orders Forest Department to return elephants to Kanchi Mutt, questions six-year delay
In a significant setback to the DMK government, the Madras High Court dismissed a writ appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu forest department and directed the return of three female elephants to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, questioning the state’s reluctance to comply with court orders even after six years
TS Venkatesan Jan 25, 2026, 10:00 pm IST
In another blow to the DMK government, the Madras High Court on January 23 dismissed a writ appeal filed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden against a single judge’s order directing the forest department to return three female elephants to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
Hearing an appeal by the Tamil Nadu state, the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan declined to entertain the appeal at the admission stage itself. The court wondered why the department was so keen not to give back the elephants to the Mutt even after six years. To that, the Additional Advocate General (AAG) replied that the health condition of the elephants was not conducive and relied upon the report of a medical examination conducted after the single judge’s order. The Division Bench questioned the forest department on how it could attempt to overreach court orders.
Since the Mutt had made adequate arrangements for the care of the elephants, the forest department could not refuse to return them. The Bench said there was no reason to interfere with the order of the single judge.
The Bench said the single judge had passed a reasoned order after considering all facts. It also agreed with counsel for Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, advocate V. R. Shanmuganathan, that it also appeared to be a consensual order since the judge had permitted government veterinarians to examine the elephants.
Disposing of a writ petition moved by the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Justice V. Lakshminarayanan had, in January this year, said that the petitioner was a Hindu religious mutt which traces its spiritual lineage to Saint Adi Shankara and had been in existence for centuries.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu: Multiple ”
[26/01, 09:12] Meta AI: மாட்ராஸ் உயர்நீதிமன்றம், தமிழ்நாடு வனத்துறை தாக்கல் செய்த மேல்முறையீட்டை தள்ளுபடி செய்து, காஞ்சி காமகோடி பீடத்திற்கு மூன்று பெண் யானைகளை திருப்பி அளிக்க உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. ஆறு ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகும் வனத்துறை ஏன் யானைகளை திருப்பித் தரவில்லை என்று நீதிமன்றம் கேள்வி எழுப்பியுள்ளது.
யானைகளின் உடல்நிலை சரியில்லை என்று வனத்துறை வாதிட்டது, ஆனால் நீதிமன்றம் அதை ஏற்கவில்லை. பீடம் யானைகளுக்கு தேவையான ஏற்பாடுகளை செய்துள்ளதால், வனத்துறை அவற்றை திருப்பித் தர வேண்டும் என்று நீதிமன்றம் கூறியுள்ளது. ¹ ² ³
இந்த தீர்ப்பு, தமிழ்நாடு அரசுக்கு ஒரு பின்னடைவாக கருதப்படுகிறது.
இந்த வழக்கு மற்றும் தீர்ப்பு பற்றி மேலும் அறிய விரும்புகிறீர்களா? அல்லது யானைகள் பாதுகாப்பு சட்டங்கள் பற்றி தெரிந்து கொள்ள விரும்புகிறீர்களா?
[26/01, 09:12] Sekarreporter: English notes
[26/01, 09:12] Sekarreporter: [26/01, 09:12] Sekarreporter: ”
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Home Politics
Tamil Nadu: Madras High Court orders Forest Department to return elephants to Kanchi Mutt, questions six-year delay
In a significant setback to the DMK government, the Madras High Court dismissed a writ appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu forest department and directed the return of three female elephants to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, questioning the state’s reluctance to comply with court orders even after six years
TS Venkatesan Jan 25, 2026, 10:00 pm IST
In another blow to the DMK government, the Madras High Court on January 23 dismissed a writ appeal filed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden against a single judge’s order directing the forest department to return three female elephants to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
Hearing an appeal by the Tamil Nadu state, the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan declined to entertain the appeal at the admission stage itself. The court wondered why the department was so keen not to give back the elephants to the Mutt even after six years. To that, the Additional Advocate General (AAG) replied that the health condition of the elephants was not conducive and relied upon the report of a medical examination conducted after the single judge’s order. The Division Bench questioned the forest department on how it could attempt to overreach court orders.
Since the Mutt had made adequate arrangements for the care of the elephants, the forest department could not refuse to return them. The Bench said there was no reason to interfere with the order of the single judge.
The Bench said the single judge had passed a reasoned order after considering all facts. It also agreed with counsel for Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, advocate V. R. Shanmuganathan, that it also appeared to be a consensual order since the judge had permitted government veterinarians to examine the elephants.
Disposing of a writ petition moved by the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Justice V. Lakshminarayanan had, in January this year, said that the petitioner was a Hindu religious mutt which traces its spiritual lineage to Saint Adi Shankara and had been in existence for centuries.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu: Multiple ”
[26/01, 09:12] Sekarreporter: English notes
[26/01, 09:12] Meta AI: The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to return three female elephants, Sandhya, Indu, and Jayanti, to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, a Hindu religious institution. The court dismissed the forest department’s appeal, questioning the six-year delay in returning the elephants. The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam had made adequate arrangements for the care of the elephants, including a 2.94-acre facility at Konerikuppam village in Kancheepuram district. ¹ ² ³
The forest department had argued that the elephants’ health was not conducive to relocation, but the court found the Mutt’s commitment to care and veterinary support sufficient. The court permitted the Mutt to perform Gaja puja and other rituals at the Konerikuppam facility, with regular health check-ups by government veterinarians. ⁴
Would you like to know more about the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam or the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972?
