Supreme Court asks for medical report of Kerala’s tallest captive elephant, pulls up State government
The Supreme Court has criticized the Kerala government for failing to provide a medical report on the state's tallest captive elephant, Uttoly Raman. The court is investigating the animal's welfare following a long-standing ownership dispute and allegations of commercial exploitation by its former caretaker.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing legal and ethical challenges regarding animal rights and the regulation of captive wildlife in India.
The Supreme Court on Friday (October 9, 2026) pulled up the Keralam government for its failure to inform the court of the measures taken to protect Uttoly Raman, the State’s tallest captive elephant, after the tusker’s custody was handed over to the government in June. The court directed the authorities to place the latest medical examination report of the elephant, which has been at the centre of a long-running ownership dispute, before it on October 12.
A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu asked why these details had not been disclosed in the State’s affidavit and why the court had been kept in the dark about the steps taken to ensure the animal’s welfare.
The State’s counsel informed the Bench that there had been a delay in taking custody of the elephant from its caretaker, Krishnankutty, due to the Assembly elections in Kerala.
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