'Balance Of Convenience Lies Against Immediate Capture Of Arikomban': Kerala High Court Constitutes Expert Committee

The Kerala High Court was of the firm view that under the present circumstances, the balance of convenience would lie against the immediate capture of the wild tusker ‘Arikomban’, a rogue elephant which is causing disturbances in human settlements near Munnar.Taking note of the 'deplorable state' of captive elephants, as well as various instances of cruelty meted out to them, the. The Kerala High Court was of the firm view that under the present circumstances, the balance of convenience would lie against the immediate capture of the wild tusker ‘Arikomban’, a rogue elephant which is causing disturbances in human settlements near Munnar. The Court thus observed that ordering for capture of Arikomban at this stage would prove to be dangerous for both the Forest Department personnel that had been deployed, as well as the animal concerned. 'Capture of Arikomban an Inevitable Necessity': Counter Affidavit by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala States The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala, told the Court through the Counter Affidavit that was filed, that the Kerala Forest Department was following all the scientific principles and procedure laid down by the MoEFCC to capture the tusker 'Arikomban', and that the decision of the Chief Wildlife Warden was not arbitrary in this regard.