Rajasthan HC awards nearly Rs 6 lakh compensation for dead jumbo

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Link: http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews & id=70049

 

Rajasthan HC awards nearly Rs 6 lakh compensation for dead jumbo

 

 

Jaipur, Dec 21 : In an unprecedented judgement, the Rajasthan High

Court on Thursday declared an elephant at par with humans and ordered

an insurance company to pay nearly six lakh rupees to the owner of

the elephant that died eighteen years ago.

 

The female elephant 'Babli', one of the many pachyderms that were

used to take tourists on trips to the famous Amer Fort here, was hit

by a speeding jeep in 1988 and had multiple fractures. The tourists

atop the elephant were also injured.

 

The elephant died after several days of treatment, and the insurance

company was directed to pay Rs 2.9 lakh to the elephant owner.

 

However, the insurance company said they were not liable to pay such

a hefty amount for just an animal.

 

The elephant's owner appealed in the High Court, and after eighteen

long years the court came out with a landmark decision.

 

The court held the value of the elephant is very high considering it

is enlisted in Schedule one of the Indian Wildlife Act, as an

endangered animal.

 

Secondly, it was the owner's source of livelihood, and could perform

many tasks like a human being.

 

" She has been equated with humans because it is in schedule one and

secondly, it does all the things that a human being can do. An seeing

all its activities, it was held at par with human beings...till date

no high court in India has given such a decision for any animal, "

said G.K. Bhartia, the petitioner's lawyer.

 

The insurance company was told to give the elephant's owner

compensation amount with 7.5 percent interest per year for a total of

eighteen years.

 

The elephant-owner rejoiced at getting delayed justice, but justice

nevertheless.

 

" She was actually like a human for me...and for the last 18 years, I

have my hopes to get justice....all that I had was wagered on this

case...since 18 years I have been worried...and today I am very

happy, " said Siddiqui Khan, the owner and caretaker of the dead

elephant.

 

India has nearly half of the world's 60,000 Asian elephants, with a

large number being tamed to do various jobs, including as cargo

carriers and tourist attractions.

 

Conservationists say the pachyderm population has fallen rapidly in

recent years because of loss of habitat as a result of human

encroachment into forest areas.

 

--- ANI