Hyderabad: Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of Telangana High Court on Friday granted time to the state government to obtain instructions in a writ plea challenging the action of the chief conservator of forests in orally directing the petitioner to obtain permission from the director, zoo parks, for carrying the holy flag, Nishan-e-Ghouse-e-Paak, on an elephant for the procession of Ghiyarhveen Shareef of Hazrat Ghouse-e-Azam Dastagir Reh. The judge was dealing with a writ plea filed by Hazrat Ghouse-e-Azam Welfare Society.
The petitioner contended that they were hiring an elephant from Maharashtra from a third party. For the transportation of the elephant to Hyderabad, the director, zoo parks, had directed the petitioner to obtain a NoC from Maharashtra, a police permission letter and consent letter from a veterinary doctor. The petitioner contended that for all earlier processions, the DCP had granted permission during Muharram.
Counsel for the petitioner pointed out that under Section 44 of The WildLife (Protection) Act, a NoC was not required for transporting an elephant owned by an individual. Counsel complained that the forest officials were restricting only the petitioner which others had been earlier granted permission to hold the procession. The judge granted a week time and adjourned the matter to October 27 for instructions.
