NEW DELHI, AUG 17 (PTI): The Supreme Court Monday directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to conduct a nationwide survey to check if any state has constructed obstacles or created blockades in elephant corridors. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made it clear that states cannot construct obstacles in the pathways of elephants to prevent loss of crops and livelihoods.
“Construction of any kind of obstacle or creating blockades in elephant corridors is not acceptable. We are very clear that there cannot be obstacles in the way of wildlife. Elephant herds have a practice of travelling long distances. No state can say that just because crops are getting destroyed, they will have to construct obstacles on their path,” the bench said.
Justice Bagchi said practice of using fireballs and spikes in Bengal is prevalent because elephants come from Nepal and through West Bengal they go to Jharkhand and other states. CJI Kant said in Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar area there are elephants and from there they travel to Uttarakhand and Himachal. “No state can block their path,” CJI said.
Tuesday, August 18, 2026