Assam & Tamil Nadu governments lock horns over ‘Joymala’

The Assam Government and the Tamil Nadu government are now locking horns over Joymala, the elephant. In fact, as per the latest directive by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a team from the Forest Department comprising of veterinarians, police, and forest officials will be rushing to Tamil Nadu on September 2 to get hold of Joymala who is reportedly injured due to torture and 8 other elephants and start immediate treatment.

Besides, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is convening a meeting tonight with Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary and officials from the forest department to decide on the next course of action.

Worth mentioning here, that the Assam Government has been in touch with the Tamil Nadu government for the last year and has also applied for the return of not one but nine jumbos that were leased out to the temple in 2008.

The latest decision has been taken after a video of Joymala being beaten and abused in a temple in Tamil Nadu had gone viral on social media. The video was shared by PETA India on Twitter showing Joymala being tortured by her mahouts.

In this regard, Assam’s principal chief conservator of forest or PCCF MK Yadava had also written to the Tamil Nadu chief secretary regarding the return of the pachyderms. However, no positive response from the Tamil Nadu government halted the process of transportation of the elephants.

However, after more than a year of communication, the chief wildlife warden of Tamil Nadu issued an order in April this year granting permission to take away Joymala.

But it was later brought to notice that the elephant is in possession of a temple and not the state Forest Department.

As such, if Assam Government tries to bring back ‘Joymala’, it will be a technical case of forceful seizure since the elephant is not in the possession of the Forest Department of the Tamil Nadu Government.

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu Government manages the trust of the temple where ‘Joymala’ has been illegally detained.

In fact, the Tamil Nadu Government had asked to bear an expense of Rs 5 lakh, which the Assam Government was willing to pay.

In a letter addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, MK Yadava said that the Assam government had asked to provide bank details for transferring Rs 5 Lakh for the expenses. But, the elephant had not been released despite the order.

As such, Yadava said if the need arises, the Assam government will be moving the court against the Tamil Nadu government to take legal recourse.