IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR THURSDAY, THE 6TH NOVEMBER 2008 / 15TH KARTHIKA 1930 WP(C).No. 3249 of 2008(J) ------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------------ C.N.SUKUMARAN NAIR, S/O.NARAYANAN NAIR, REVATHI NIVAS, COLLEGE JUNCTION, MUVATTUPUZHA P.O. ERNAKULAM. BY ADV. SRI.S.SUBHASH CHAND RESPONDENTS: -------------------- 1. TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, OFFICE OF THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDING, NANDHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER, OFFICE OF THE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDING, NANDHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. CHIEF FOREST CONSERVATOR (WILD LIFE) & CHIEF WILD LIFE WARDEN, FOREST HEADQUARTERS, WILD LIFE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 5. FOREST CONSERVATOR, OFFICE OF THE FOREST CONSERVATOR, HIGH RANGE CIRCLE, KOTTAYAM. 6. RANGE OFFICER (SOCIAL FORESTRY) OFFICE OF THE RANGE OFFICER, KOTTAYAM. ADV. SRI.K.N.VENUGOPALA PANICKER, SC, TDB FOR R1 & R2 GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI R.LAKSHMINARAYANAN FOR R3 to R6 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 06/11/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.R.RAMAN & V.K.MOHANAN, JJ. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ W.P.(C).No.3249 of 2008-J ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Dated this the 10th day of March, 2008 O R D E R P.R.RAMAN, J. This is a writ petition filed by a devotee. One of the grievance of the petitioner is that no enquiry or investigation of the untimely death of an elephant by name Neelakantan of Sree Mahadevar Temple, Ettumanoor, was conducted and he seeks appropriate direction for such an enquiry/investigation under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. One of the interim relief is for appointing a judicial enquiry officer to enquire the cause of death of the said elephant and submit report before this Court. Admittedly, the proper authority has to go into these issues or to have investigation afresh as contemplated under the Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2003, framed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Ext.P10 is an application submitted by the petitioner to the authorities under the above Rules. Therefore, there will be an interim direction to the sixth respondent herein, to enquire into Ext.P10 and submit a report. Post after mid-summer holidays. P.R.RAMAN, Judge V.K.MOHANAN, Judge ms