Karnataka High Court Acts on Elephant Deaths

Karnataka High Court has taken notice regarding the unnatural deaths of elephants, including the recent passing of Dasara elephant Ashwathama, who lost his life due to electrocution.

Facts of this Case

The 38-year-old bull elephant tragically passed away due to electrocution from a live wire connected to a solar fence near the Bhimanakatte elephant camp in the vicinity of Nagarahole Reserve. The bench noted that the unnatural deaths of elephants were becoming more frequent. As earlier in Chikkamagaluru district, an elephant had died due to electrocution. And two similar deaths were reported in Madikeri. They also acknowledged media reports citing a statistic that 35 elephants had died from electrocution since January 2021.

The division bench of Chief Justice N. V. Anjaria and Justice K. V. Aravind has taken notice of these incidents. Relying on media reports, the Karnataka High Court has taken suo-motu cognizance with regard to repeated incidents of elephant deaths due to electrocution or other unnatural causes.

The court also questioned the adequacy of safety measures for wildlife within and outside sanctuary and reserve areas, as well as the protocols for assigning responsibility to officials for these fatalities.

Court’s Orders

The court observed that the repeated and successive deaths of elephants in various parts of Karnataka due to electrocution or other unnatural causes are deeply concerning. The court relied on media reports and held that these incidents occur due to the lack of diligence by authorities responsible for ensuring safety measures for elephants specifically and wildlife in general.

The court initiated a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) and summoned the union, state, and senior officials from the Karnataka forest department as respondents. They instructed the respondents to address several questions, including the statutory frameworks used by authorities and the present steps taken to safeguard elephants. They also sought clarification on future preventive measures against unnatural deaths.

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