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23h ago

Bombay High Court Mandates Transfer of Elephant Mahadevi to Gujarat Sanctuary

Upholding expert findings of decubital ulcers alongside severe foot rot, the court invoked its parens patriae duty to arrange Mahadevi’s transfer within 14 days

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The elephant Mahadevi has been with the Swasthishri Jinsen Bhattarak, a Kolhapur-based trust belonging to the Jain discipline, since 1992.
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Overview

  • The court dismissed the Kolhapur Jain Math’s petition against High Power Committee orders from December 27, 2024, and June 3, 2025, directing Mahadevi’s move to Vantara in Jamnagar.
  • Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale ruled that an elephant’s right to a quality life overrides its use in religious programmes under Article 25.
  • Court-appointed veterinarians documented ulcerated wounds on Mahadevi’s hip and elbow joints and severe foot rot, describing her confinement as “absolutely dismal.”
  • PETA’s 2023 complaint triggered multi-agency inspections and legal scrutiny, revealing commercial exploitation for public processions without mandatory clearances.
  • With Maharashtra lacking a dedicated elephant sanctuary, the Anant Ambani–backed Vantara facility offers specialized rehabilitation, natural enclosures and professional veterinary care.