No lapse: Supreme Court on Kerala HC’s ruling on Arikomban issue

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday observed that there is no lapse in the Kerala High Court’s ruling on the Arikomban issue. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha observed while considering the plea of two private individuals against the High Court order.

The apex court pointed out that Kerala High Court’s ruling was based on the report submitted by the expert committee. CJI noted that courts don't have expertise over this matter (Arikomban issue) like experts (related to wild elephants) in the field.

Earlier, the court had dismissed the plea by the state government against Kerala High Court’s ruling that the wild elephant Arikomban should be to the Parambikulam tiger reserve from Idukki’s Chinnakanal region. Rejecting the plea filed by the state government, the apex court refused to interfere with the expert committee report which recommended shifting.

Kerala High Court court had given the state a week to come up with an alternative location to translocate the elephant after the government said that people living close to Parambikulam Tiger Reserve were objecting to moving Arikomban there as suggested by the committee. Later, the court directed the committee to take a final decision by May 3 on the alternative site suggested by the forest department for translocation. 

It also asked the committee to examine the feasibility of the alternative site for translocating the tusker and to keep details of the recommended location confidential.

The private individuals’ plea came at this juncture. The apex court reiterated its position that the ruling is reasoned.