Madras High Court Directs Tamil Nadu to Frame Rules for Elephants in Temple Events

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to create a standard operating procedure for using elephants in temple festivals and religious functions.

Joint Working Group

A bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan ordered the formation of a joint working group. This team will include the Environment, Climate Change and Forests secretary, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments secretary, the Chief Wildlife Warden, the HR&CE Commissioner, and expert veterinary officers. The court wants this group to draft rules that follow animal welfare and safety standards.

Key Rules

The court order states that the new procedure must include health checks, microchip verification, and DNA profiles before any elephant gets permission to join a festival. District level committees will give the final approvals after checking animal registrations. The guidelines must also set limits on travel times, require rest stops, and control noise levels from loudspeakers and firecrackers. Handlers face strict bans on physical cruelty, heavy tethering, and spiked chains.

Context

The draft of these new rules must be placed before the court on October 30, 2026. Courts often step in to regulate the treatment of captive animals when traditional practices conflict with modern animal welfare laws and constitutional duties.