W.P.No.10601 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 13.08.2026 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN W.P.No.10601 of 2020 and W.M.P.Nos.12881 and 12988 of 2020 and W.M.P.No.18687 of 2020 W.P.No.10601 of 2020: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, Rep. by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr.Manilal Valliayte Having its registered office at F-110, 1st Floor, Jagdamba Centre, Preet Vihar, New Delhi-110 092. Petitioner Vs 1.The Chief Secretary Representing the Chief Minister, Government of Puducherry, No.5, Ellaimman Koil Street, MG Road Area, Puducherry- 605 001. 2.The Secretary Department of Forest and Wildlife, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry Muliyagram Forest Campus, Cuddalore Main Road, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry-605 004. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.10601 of 2020 3.The Deputy Conservator of Forests Department of Forest and Wildlife Government of Puducherry Puducherry Mullaiyagram Forest Campus, Cuddalore Main Road, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry- 605 004. 4.The Principal Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Department of Forest and Wildlife Government of Puducherry Puducherry Mullaiyagram Forest Campus, Cuddalore Main Road, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry-605 004. 5.Animal Welfare Board of India Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying), Government of India National Institute of Animal Welfare, Campus, P.O. 42 KM Stone, Delhi-Agra Highway, NH- 2 Village - Seekri, Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, Haryana-121 004. 6.Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Devasthanam Rep. by its Executive Officer, Manakula Vinayagar Koil Street, Puducherry-605 001. 7.Municipal Commissioner Puducherry Municipality, Gubert Avenue, Marie, Puducherry- 605 001. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.10601 of 2020 8.Inspector General of Forests Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Project Elephant Division Indira Paryavaran Bhavan, Alilganj, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi-110 003. 9.L.Lakshmi Narayanan Son of Kannan, 95, Perumal Koil Street, Puducherry. (R9 impleaded vide order dt. 15.09.2020 made in WMP.13882/2020) 10.S.Muralidharan S/o.Mr.P.Sivalingam, 2A, 3rd Main Road, Kottur Gardens, Chennai 600085. (R10 impleaded vide order dt.15.09.2020 made in WMP.15311/2020) Respondents PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records and quashing the impugned order bearing Note No.13-238/ CM/2020 dated 16.07.2020 issued by the Chief Minister of Puducherrry, the 1st respondent herein and further directing the 6th respondent to fully comply with the order No.01/DF & WL/DCF/2020- 21/300 dated 04.06.2020 passed by the 4th respondent and Shift elephant Lakshmi to a Sanctuary or rehabilitation centre with a Natural habitat wherein she can live unchained, received much-needed veterinary care, finally have the opportunity to socialize with other elephants, and be free from the fear of being hit with an ankus. For Petitioner: Ms.T.Kiran Rani for M/s KNS Law Chambers ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.10601 of 2020 For Respondent(s):Mr.V.Vasanthakumar Addl. Govt. Pleader (Pondy) for RR 1 to 4 & 7 Mr.T.Saikrishnan for R6 W.M.P.No.18687 of 2020: S.Ganesh Ganasambanthan, S/o.Shanmurugarajah, No.78, 13th Cross, Anna Nagar, Pondicherry. Applicant Vs 1.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, Rep. by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr.Manilal Valliayte Having its registered office at F-110, 1st Floor, Jagdamba Centre, Preet Vihar, New Delhi-110 092. 2.The Chief Secretary Rep. by the Chief Minister, Government of Puducherry, No.5, Ellaimman Koil Street, MG Road Area, Puducherry- 605 001. 3.The Secretary Department of Forest and Wildlife, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry Muliyagram Forest Campus, Cuddalore Main Road, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry-605 004. 4.The Deputy Conservator of Forests Department of Forest and Wildlife Government of Puducherry Puducherry Mullaiyagram Forest Campus, Cuddalore Main Road, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry- 605 004. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.10601 of 2020 5.The Principal Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Department of Forest and Wildlife Government of Puducherry Puducherry Mullaiyagram Forest Campus, Cuddalore Main Road, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry-605 004. 6.Animal Welfare Board of India Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying), Government of India National Institute of Animal Welfare, Campus, P.O. 42 KM Stone, Delhi-Agra Highway, NH- 2 Village - Seekri, Ballabhgarh, Faridabadm Haryana-121 004. 7.Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Devasthanam Rep. by its Executive Officer, Manakula Vinayagar Koil Street, Puducherry-605 001. 8.Municipal Commissioner Puducherry Municipality, Gubert Avenue, Marie, Puducherry- 605 001. 9.Inspector General of Forests Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Project, Elephant Division Indira Paryavaran Bhavan, Alilganj, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi-110 003. Respondents ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.10601 of 2020 Prayer: Petition filed to implead the petitioner/proposed respondent herein, S.Ganesh Ganasambanthan, S/o. Shanmurugarajah, No.78, 13th Cross, Anna Nagar, Pondicherry as party respondent in the above Writ Petition WP No. 10601/2020. For Applicant: Mr.B.Balavijayan For Respondent: Ms.T.Kiran Rani for M/s KNS Law Chambers for R1 Mr.V.Vasanthakumar Addl. Govt. Pleader (Pondy) for RR 2 to 5 & 8 Mr.T.Saikrishnan for R7 ORDER (Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Learned counsel for petitioner submits that the matter has become infructuous. In view of the above, the writ petition is dismissed as having rendered infructuous. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, W.M.P.Nos.12881 and 12988 of 2020 are closed. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.10601 of 2020 Since the writ petition is dismissed as infructuous, no order needs to be passed in W.M.P.No.18687 of 2020 and, accordingly, the same is also closed. (SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J) 13.08.2026 Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation : Yes/No bbr To: 1.The Chief Secretary Government of Puducherry, No.5, Ellaimman Koil Street, MG Road Area, Puducherry- 605 001. 2.The Secretary Department of Forest and Wildlife, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry Muliyagram Forest Campus, Cuddalore Main Road, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry-605 004. 3.The Deputy Conservator of Forests Department of Forest and Wildlife Government of Puducherry Puducherry Mullaiyagram Forest Campus, Cuddalore Main Road, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry- 605 004. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.10601 of 2020 4.The Principal Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Department of Forest and Wildlife Government of Puducherry Puducherry Mullaiyagram Forest Campus, Cuddalore Main Road, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry-605 004. 5.Animal Welfare Board of India Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying), Government of India National Institute of Animal Welfare, Campus, P.O. 42 KM Stone, Delhi-Agra Highway, NH- 2 Village - Seekri, Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, Haryana-121 004. 6.The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Devasthanam Manakula Vinayagar Koil Street, Puducherry-605 001. 7.The Municipal Commissioner Puducherry Municipality, Gubert Avenue, Marie, Puducherry- 605 001. 8.The Inspector General of Forests Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Project Elephant Division Indira Paryavaran Bhavan, Alilganj, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi-110 003. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.10601 of 2020 THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN, J. bbr W.P.No.10601 of 2020 13.08.2026 ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis