File report on captive elephants, State told

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by animal activist Antony Clinton Rubin of Chennai, claimed that elephants became ferocious when they were separated from its natural habitat. 

Referring to an incident, in which a mahout was trampled to death by an elephant at the Mariamman temple in Tiruchy a few months ago, the petitioner said the elephant turned ferocious while performing rituals in the temple. Nine other devotees were injured after the elephant attacked them. 

After hearing the plea, a division bench of justices MM Sundaresh and N Sathish Kumar ordered the HR&CE commissioner to file a detailed counter affidavit and adjourned the case to October 10.