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Supreme Court Slams Kerala Government Over Custody and Medical Report of Elephant Raman
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News18•09-10-2026, 19:00
Supreme Court Slams Kerala Government Over Custody and Medical Report of Elephant Raman
- •The Supreme Court criticized the Kerala government for failing to comply with its order to take over the custody of Raman, recognized as the tallest elephant in the state.
- •A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu demanded the submission of a recent medical report regarding the elephant's health and current condition.
- •The caretaker argued that the animal could not be shifted due to being in musth, a biological condition involving a surge in testosterone levels.
- •The apex court previously ordered the state to take over the elephant's custody and place it in a rehabilitation centre, citing commercial exploitation and defiance of restraint orders.
- •The court emphasized that the well-being of voiceless animals is of paramount importance and warned against turning a blind eye to their exploitation.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court slammed the Kerala government for failing to comply with its order to take over the custody of Raman, the state's tallest elephant, and demanded a recent medical report to check on the animal's upkeep and health.
Krishnankutty held custody of Raman based on a contested will and was found guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court for willfully violating an undertaking that the elephant would not be subjected to commercial exploitation or temple activities.
The contempt petition was filed by Jayakrishna Menon, who claimed that the elephant belonged to the Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt and had only been temporarily handed over to Krishnankutty for care.
