Kochi, February 27 The Kerala High Court on Friday strongly criticised the state government over the lack of security measures to protect tribal people living in the Aralam farm area in Kannur district, following the death of a 44-year-old man there in the morning due to an elephant attack.
Describing the situation in and around the Aralam farm and the Tribal Rehabilitation and Development Mission (TRDM) area as "deplorable," a bench of justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian said the steps taken by the government to protect the people there were "woefully inadequate."
Aneesh died after being attacked by a wild elephant at Aralam farm, as the night patrolling rapid response team of the Aralam Wildlife Range was unable to successfully locate the animal, apparently due to heavy mist.
"This incident highlights the clear failures on the part of the administration to provide adequate security measures to protect the lives of the tribal people in the Aralam farm area, especially those residing in the TRDM area," the bench said.
"Although we are told that personnel were dispatched to the scene in the morning, we find the steps taken by the state administration to be woefully inadequate to inspire confidence in the residents of the tribal colony," the bench added.
The bench further stated that if this was the fate of the hapless tribal residents in the area, given that the adequacy of the safety measures taken therein is being monitored by the High Court, "one can only shudder to think about the fate of residents in other conflict areas in the state which are not currently under judicial surveillance."
The court also said that every loss of human life due to an animal attack "represents a failure of the administrative machinery of the state."
"The guarantee of life and personal liberty under Article 21 of our Constitution cannot be rendered meaningless by persistent inaction on the part of the state administration. Every loss of human life, due to human-animal conflict, represents a failure of the administrative machinery of the state, not to mention a failure to adhere to the constitutional morality expected of the state executive, for which they must remain accountable," the bench said.
The court was hearing two pleas seeking directions to the state government to ensure the security of the residents of the Aralam farm area.
The bench adjourned the matter to March 2 and directed that the Chief Secretary, the Secretary of the SC/ST Department, and the Chief Wildlife Warden shall be present on that day via video conferencing to answer queries of the court regarding the steps taken or proposed to prevent such events from occurring in the state.