Supreme Court asks for medical report of Kerala’s tallest captive elephant, pulls up State government

Famous elephant Thechikottukavu Ramachandran carries the idol of Chembukkavu Bhagavathy for the Thrissur Pooram. Representative image | Photo Credit: NAJEEB KK

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.

Expressing serious reservations over the submission, Justice Datta remarked, “It is a wonderful argument to make. So, the Supreme Court order is not to be complied with all these months because there were elections?”

The Bench also sought to know when the transfer of custody had eventually taken place and why the fact had not been mentioned in the State’s affidavit. The court further directed the State to ensure that the former caretaker, who has been accused of “commercially exploiting” the elephant, is not allowed to touch the animal.