Guwahati: The Delhi High Court has stalled the relocation of a 48-year-old female elephant, Ranjitha, from Assam to a temple in Delhi, citing a lack of clarity on the necessity and purpose of the move.
Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedeala issued a notice to the Maa Baglamukhi Mandir Trust, directing that the elephant not be moved from her current residence in Jorhat, Assam.
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The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) challenged the transfer, highlighting concerns about the elephant’s well-being.
The court questioned the wisdom of subjecting the elderly elephant to a 2,000-kilometer road journey, considering her age and the drastic change in climate and living conditions.
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The chief wildlife warden, Delhi, was instructed to assess the temple area’s living conditions and the population of staff and animals.
The FIAPO counsel stated that relocating the elephant would be traumatic, given Jorhat’s lush greenery and Delhi’s confined space.
The case is posted for hearing on November 28.