The Supreme Court has stayed the Kerala High Court’s order that sought to regulate the use of elephants in temple festivals, recognizing the practice as a deep-rooted cultural tradition. A bench led by Justices B.V. Nagarathna and S.C. Sharma observed that the High Court’s directive, which included setting mandatory distances between paraded elephants, could disrupt long-standing religious and cultural customs in the state.
The Supreme Court’s decision aligns with a previous order from December 2024, which had already stayed some of the High Court’s restrictions. In that ruling, the Court had acknowledged the impracticality of enforcing rigid distance rules between elephants in festival processions. The latest stay reinforces the view that temple rituals involving elephants are integral to Kerala’s cultural fabric and should be respected within the framework of existing wildlife and safety regulations.
The debate over the use of elephants in temple festivals has long been a sensitive issue, balancing cultural heritage with concerns about animal welfare. While conservationists advocate for stricter regulations to prevent mistreatment, devotees argue that these majestic animals are treated with reverence and care. The Supreme Court’s intervention is seen as a temporary relief for temple authorities and festival organizers, allowing time for further deliberation on how tradition and ethical treatment of animals can coexist.