HC allows procession of elephants during "Pooram"

Kochi, Apr 12 (UNI) Kerala High Court today modified its order restricting parading of elephants during festivals and allowed the procession of the pachyderms during the famous Thrissur Pooram festival.

Justice C N Ramachandran Nair, while disposing off the petition by the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms, the official organisers of the ''Thrissur Pooram'', allowed them to parade the elephants between 1100 hrs and 1500 hrs. on the condition that the pachyderms would be given rest during the morning and the previous night of the festival.

The petitioners had moved the court against its order yesterday contending that procession of elephants during the ''Pooram'' was done from 1100 hrs to 1700 hrs.

The court had yesterday prohibited elephant processions between 1100 hrs and 1500 hrs considering the scorching summer heat.

The court had also directed the temple authorities to provide 250 kg of food and 500 litres of drinking water for each elephant every day.

The implementation of the rules should be ensured by police and revenue authorities, the court observed.

UNI