Kerala High Court refuses to extend the time for temples to register captive elephants
28 October 2026
The Kerala High Court has held that the time limit for temples and other owners to register captive elephants with the district-level committee cannot be extended. The ruling is reported as Ravi E. v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 590.
The registration requirement comes from the Kerala Captive Elephant (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2012, framed under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The Rules require an owner to obtain an ownership certificate, keep a record of the animal and present it before a district-level committee, and they fix the conditions under which a captive elephant may be used.
In plain words
Captive elephant Captive elephant — An elephant held in ownership, which in Kerala must be registered and carry an ownership certificate.