Please respond

[Guest guest]

This time it may turn to be a good omen for the most cruelly treated

elephants of Kerala.

Please write your comments and opinions

 

A.G.Babu

------------------------------

*Kerala*

News: ePaper <http://epaper.thehindu.com/> 2009/02/12/

 

* Panel moots curbs on use of elephants *

 

K.P.M. Basheer * Bill by Law Reforms Commission *

 

Krishna Iyer calls for ordinance to implement curbs

 

Sets guidelines for use of elephants

*

------------------------------

 

KOCHI: The Law Reforms Commission has recommended to the State government to

strictly restrict the use of elephants at festivals and ceremonies.

 

If enacted, the Compassion for Living Creatures Bill, will put strong curbs

on the use of elephants at Thrissur Pooram and a host of other temple

festivals, for which elephants are increasingly being used to add colour and

grandeur. The Bill is likely to draw the ire of temple authorities, festival

organisers and owners of elephants.

 

The Bill, said to be first of its kind in India and is based on the

citizen's Fundamental Duty to show compassion for all living creatures, sets

guidelines for the use of elephants at festivals. It stipulates that the

elephants should not be displayed for more than two hours at a stretch.

 

" No elephant shall be used for any purpose connected with festivals in any

private or public place of worship or where any public ceremony is conducted

continuously at a stretch of more than a maximum period of four hours

without giving a rest period of not less than two hours. Even after giving

such rest period, no elephant can be used for a period more than eight hours

during a continuous period extending to 24 hours, " the Bill says. " If during

the festivals, any fireworks is conducted, elephants, if any, present at the

festival place, shall be taken to their resting place and properly chained

so that the elephants may be under control of the mahouts so that breach of

peace can be avoided. "

 

Elephants should not be used at festivals without the permission of the

government. " The authority who conducts festivals and other functions shall

seek and obtain prior permission for use of elephants from the officer

nominated by the government in this behalf. On receiving the request, the

authority shall conduct such enquiries as he deems fit regarding the

suitability of the elephant concerned for the purpose and issue certificate

of fitness accordingly. "

 

V.R. Krishna Iyer, chairman of the Commission, said compelling elephants to

stand stock-still for hours was a torture and the breach of the Fundamental

Duty under Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution. He suggested to the

government that such a `non-controversial' Bill should be implemented by an

Ordinance. He appealed to the people to pressure the government to implement

the provisions of the Bill immediately.