Gauhati HC asks SC panel to decide fate of nine Assam elephants in Tamil Nadu

The Gauhati High Court has referred the matter of nine elephants from Assam, currently held in Tamil Nadu, to a Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC) for a decision on their rehabilitation. The court has also instructed the Tamil Nadu government to carry out monthly inspections at the facilities where these elephants are housed.

The directive, issued on August 18 and made public on Monday, stems from a 2022 petition by the Assam government. The petition sought the return of an elephant named Joymala after videos of her being beaten surfaced online. Joymala was leased to the Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil temple in 2011 for a three-year period but has remained there since.

PETA India, which was made a respondent in the case, argued that Joymala should be moved to a sanctuary where she could live without chains and in the company of other elephants. The organisation also requested similar relief for eight other elephants from Assam whose temporary transfer periods to Tamil Nadu have lapsed.

The court observed that the temple's position appeared to treat Joymala as a "movable object" and did not seem to genuinely prioritise the elephant's welfare. It has asked the HPC, headed by retired Justice Deepak Verma, to hear PETA India's submissions while adjudicating on ownership, transfer, and rehabilitation issues.

A 2022 inspection at the temple revealed that Joymala's mahout allegedly used pliers to twist her skin as a means of control, even in the presence of inspectors. In March 2025, over 50 veterinarians signed a petition calling for her rescue, which was forwarded to authorities in both Assam and Tamil Nadu.