Legal briefs

Kerala HC appoints amicus curiae to inspect elephant rehab centre

• The Kerala High Court has appointed amicus curiae (friend of the court) to inspect the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre at Kottoor in Thiruvananthapuram district and submit a report about the facilities available there
• The direction by the HC came on a plea by it in 2018 based on news reports about the sad plight of an elephant by the name Sasthamcotta Neelakandan of Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
• The tusker was taken to the rehab centre on the orders of the HC and died there while undergoing treatment. Subsequently, the court found that there was a shortfall in providing treatment to the tusker at the Kottoor Centre.
• Thereafter, the state informed the court that the elephant rehab centre at Kottoor was being upgraded where the best facilities in respect of housing, veterinary care, exposure to wild foraging would be provided.
• Taking note of these submissions made by the state, the court asked the amicus curiae to conduct the inspection on Jan 15, 2022, and listed the matter for further hearing on Jan 21 

HC directive on temple properties

• The Madras High Court has directed a number of officials, including at the Secretary-level, to coordinate on a plaint regarding alleged irregularities over a temple property in Chennai
• A judge gave the order on a petition from a person, who said attempts were being made by miscreants to grab the properties of over 150 acres of a temple at Nandambakkam in Chennai by creating forged documents
• The respondents include the Secretaries of Tourism, Home and Revenue, Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai District Collector and City Police Commissioner among others
• The judge said the effort requires verification of revenue records, documents and the claims of third parties by following procedures as contemplated under law, and disposing of the plea

No more virtual hearings in Madras HC from Jan 3

• The Madras High Court will have an only physical hearing of cases from Jan 3, 2022, according to a notification
• This will apply to both the principal seat in Chennai and the Madurai bench, a notification from Registrar General said
• it is notified that all virtual hearings on video conferencing platform shall stand suspended with effect from Jan 3, 2022, until further orders, it said