Supreme Court Orders Centre to Bolster Captive Elephant Regulations

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to strengthen regulatory mechanisms for captive elephants. The directive comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of elephants kept in captivity across the country. In its order, the Court asked the government to review existing guidelines and propose stricter enforcement measures, including licensing, health checks and welfare standards for captive elephants. The ruling is expected to prompt the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to draft new regulations and ensure compliance with wildlife protection laws.