PIL in Gauhati HC against transportation of elephants

Guwahati: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Gauhati High Court on Friday to stop the transportation of four elephants to the Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad.
Avinava Prayash, a Guwahat-based NGO, represented by its secretary, Urmi Mala Das and Nandini Baruah, founder of ‘Purr Paws Foundation’, filed the PIL under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, challenging the action of Assam Forest Department to transport four elephants to Ahmedabad for participating at the Rath Yatra festival to be held there on July 4.
Senior Advocate Bhaskar Dev Konwar will appear for the petitioners and permission has been granted to list the PIL for hearing on June 24.
The Petitioners have contended that the decision of the Assam Forest Department is in violation of the relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and relevant orders of the Supreme Court in this regard.
Transporting the elephants in railway wagons in the prevailing heat-wave conditions in North India, would subject the animals to extreme stress, pain and cruelty and they may not survive the long journey of 3,106 kms, the petition said. (UNI)