Elephants equivalent to humans :Raj HC

Jaipur, Dec 20 (UNI) In a significant verdict, the Rajasthan High Court has considered elephants equivalent to humans and said they should be accorded the same status as humans.

On October 12, 1998, 35-year old elephant Babli was ferrying four tourists from England to Amer Palace when a jeep rammed into it and fractured its leg. Tourist Melinda Diamond, who was sitting atop Babli, also other hand fractured.

Babli suffered several fractures and died even after 70 hours long treatment.

Advocate G K Bharatiya, who pleaded the case on behalf of petitioner and elephant owner Malik Sadique, asked for compensation from Motor Accident Claims Tribunal. The then Justice Murlidhar Goswami directed the New India Assurance Company to give the petitioner Rs 2,90,000 as compensation with the interest rate of 12 percent per year.

The insurance company filed a petition in the High Court saying according to Motor Vehicle Act 1939, their repsonsibility for hurting animal asset amounts to Rs 2000 only and any demand for more compensation should have been filed at Sessions Court.

Mr Bhartiya appealed aaginst this oreder and said elephant should be regarded equivalent to human and should not be considered as an asset.

Accepting the petitioner's reply, justice Dr Vineet Kothari on May 31 said elephant should be considered equivalent to human and on Nov 7 passed the order that the petitioner should be given compensation along with interest.

Elephant owner Sadiq Khan received Rs 5,99,440 as compensation from the insurance company today.

UNI RRT SK DB1834