Kerala temple trusts seek SC ruling over elephant parade restrictions

New Delhi: The temple trusts of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms have approached the Supreme Court challenging the Kerala High Court’s restrictions on elephant management for the iconic Thrissur Pooram festival.

Considered the "mother of all festivals" in Kerala, Thrissur Pooram was initiated by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of the erstwhile Kochi state, in the late 18th century. The festival’s most prominent feature is the grand elephant parade, which involves more than 50 elephants and a spectacular firecracker display, lasting from the afternoon until the early hours of the next day.

The special leave petition filed before the Supreme Court argues that the Kerala High Court erred in issuing festival-specific directions without violating any central laws, such as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, or the 2012 Rules. The petition claims that judicial interference is only necessary when no statutory framework exists and that the Kerala High Court's ruling arbitrarily replaces the role of the legislature and executive in regulating such festivals.

The appeal, filed by advocate Abhilash M.R., also disputes the Kerala High Court’s imposition of a "spatial restriction" requiring a minimum distance of 3 meters between elephants. This restriction, according to the petitioners, would disrupt the historic festival, as the centuries-old venue, Vadakkumnathan Temple, integral to the Thrissur Pooram, cannot accommodate such limitations due to its traditional layout.

The Kerala High Court had previously restrained the use of elephants in Kerala's temples in connection with the prohibition of cruelty against captive elephants during festivals. It took note of the alarming death rate of captive elephants, stating that between 2018 and 2024, 160 captive elephants died—nearly 33 percent of the total recorded elephants in Kerala during this period.

The High Court emphasized that the use of elephants in festivals is not an essential religious practice and criticized the commercialization of such events, where temple committees often compete for the number and fame of elephants in parades. It ordered that festival organizers submit detailed applications to authorities at least one month before the event and that elephants must be provided with sufficient food, water, and rest periods.

Additionally, the court directed that elephants must not be paraded on public roads between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., must not be transported between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., and must be given at least eight hours of rest within a 24-hour period.

The Supreme Court now faces the task of reviewing the petition against the Kerala High Court's decision, which has generated a significant debate over the balance between animal welfare and cultural traditions in Kerala.

With IANS inputs