Supreme Court pulls up Kerala over welfare of Raman, state's tallest captive elephant
The bench demanded a fresh medical assessment of the tusker after the state failed to explain what it has done since being ordered to take custody of the animal in June.
Supreme Court demands answers from Kerala
The Supreme Court has demanded a fresh medical report on Uttoly Raman, Kerala’s tallest captive elephant, after rebuking the state government for failing to explain how it has cared for the animal since being ordered to take custody of him four months ago.
On Friday, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu questioned why the state's official affidavit lacked details on the elephant's current condition and the steps taken to ensure his welfare. The court ordered the Kerala government to submit a new medical report by Monday, 12 October.
State blames elections and biology for delay
When the state's counsel argued that taking custody from the elephant's caretaker, Krishnankutty, was delayed because of assembly elections, the bench was unimpressed.
"It is a wonderful argument to make," Justice Datta said. "So, the Supreme Court order is not to be complied with all these months because there were elections?"
The caretaker's legal team also told the court that Raman could not be moved because he was in musth—a period of heightened testosterone and natural aggression in male elephants. However, the judges focused on the lack of monitoring by authorities. After discovering the last medical check took place on 24 June, Justice Datta asked the state's representative: "Are you monitoring the condition of the elephant or not? The last medical report means you have not checked him after 24th June?"
A long-running battle over ownership
The dispute over the tusker is a complex battle between the caretaker and a spiritual order. The Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt claims the elephant belongs to them and was only given to Krishnankutty for temporary care. Krishnankutty, however, asserts ownership based on two gift deeds from February 2017. The Mutt has challenged the validity of these deeds under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, which strictly regulates the possession and transfer of Asian elephants.
The legal battle peaked on 9 June, when the Supreme Court ordered the Kerala government to take temporary custody of Raman and move him to a rehabilitation centre. That order followed a contempt petition filed by Jayakrishna Menon, who showed that Krishnankutty had violated a court undertaking by using the elephant commercially at a temple festival near Chavakkad.
The court fined Krishnankutty Rs 2,000 for contempt, stating that it could not remain a "mute spectator" when the welfare of voiceless animals was at stake. During the latest hearing, the bench ordered that the former caretaker must not be allowed to touch the elephant, rejecting claims that he acted out of care.
"The only love and affection you have for the elephant is for the love of money," Justice Datta said. "You have commercially exploited the elephant."
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Contempt fine imposed on former caretaker | Rs 2,000 | Supreme Court order |
| Deadline for new medical report | 12 October 2026 | Supreme Court directive |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Krishnankutty | The former caretaker accused of commercially exploiting the elephant. |
| Dipankar Datta | Supreme Court Justice who led the questioning. |
| Uttoly Raman | The state's tallest captive elephant at the centre of the dispute. |
| Kerala Government | Criticised for failing to report on the elephant's upkeep. |
| Supreme Court of India | Issued directives on the custody and welfare of the elephant. |
