Ashok Bhushan, J.

These four Writ Appeals and one Writ Petition raise an important issue pertaining to transfer/sale/transaction/transportation of elephants in the State of Kerala. The issue assumes more importance in view of the fact that the State of Kerala is known for its rich wealth of elephants and large number of traditions and rituals being associated with elephants in different ceremonies being performed in temples and other places. W.A. No. 1650 of 2014 is being treated as the leading case, facts of which case are being noted in detail.

W.A. No. 1650 of 2014

2. This Writ Appeal has been filed against the judgment dated 28.8.2014 in W.P(C). No. 17848 of 2014, by which judgment the Writ Petition filed by the Secretary, Paramekkavu Devaswom, has been disposed of holding that no permission is required from the Chief Forest Conservator to obtain an elephant from outside the State. The petitioner pleaded in the Writ Petition that a devotee Mrs. Vinitha Watson, native of Thrissur and settled in U.S.A, an ardent devotee of the Lord Bhagavathy of Paramekkavu, wants to offer an elephant to the Devaswom, for which she deposited 90,000/- US$ in the account of the Devaswom. The