Karnataka Forest Department issues guidelines to tackle rising elephant-human conflict
Bengaluru: In response to the increasing number of elephant-related incidents across the state, the Karnataka Forest Department has issued detailed guidelines to its staff in thirteen divisions to manage human-elephant conflict during various emergency situations.
The move comes amid questions raised by the Karnataka High Court regarding the exercise of powers under Section 11 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. It permits the Chief Wildlife Warden to authorise the hunting of an animal deemed dangerous to human life, among other criteria. The court’s scrutiny follows a public interest litigation that challenged the alleged indiscriminate capture of elephants in the Hassan district, Deccan Herald reported on Monday.
These interactions are often driven by habitat encroachment, fragmentation or loss, scarcity of food and water in natural habitats, and attraction to cultivated crops or human settlements are the other reasons,” the guidelines state.
Emphasis is placed on the safety of both humans and elephants, with a focus on preventing the recurrence of such incidents through improved preparedness.
Elephants account for nearly two-thirds of all wildlife conflict cases in the state. Data from the department, cited by DH, shows that in the 2024–25 financial year alone, 35,580 conflict incidents were recorded, with 22,483 involving elephants.
In addition to human and animal fatalities, the department has had to contend with injuries leading to disability, crop destruction, and property damage. Of the Rs 22 crore ex gratia paid, elephants accounted for Rs 13.5 crore. Meanwhile, around 15,000 pending cases, where damages claimed amount to Rs 23 crore, are still awaiting resolution.
The guidelines also cover procedures for the rescue and relocation of problematic elephants. In the event of a wild elephant’s death, whether by natural causes, accidents, or human action, the department is expected to respond promptly and systematically.
However, implementation may face challenges on the ground. An official from the elephant conflict division termed the guidelines "ambitious," highlighting few issues.
“Mobilisation of resources is a big challenge. Rushing elephant task forces from one division to another when 60% sanctioned staff positions are vacant is not a solution. The outsourced staff who earn a pittance are exposing themselves to danger. These basic matters need to be addressed,” DH quoted him as saying.
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HC questions Delhi govt over failure to regulate sale of old vehicles, refers to Red Fort blast
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court questioned the city government on Wednesday over its failure to regulate the sale and transfer of used vehicles, while pointing out that in a recent bomb blast near the Red Fort, a second-hand car was used, making the issue more significant.
A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked the Delhi government to file a detailed response on the issue of regulating authorised dealers of registered vehicles.
"A car changes four hands but the original owner has not changed. Therefore, what happens? That man (the original owner) goes to the slaughterhouse? What is this? How are you permitting this? You will take a call when two-three more bomb blasts take place?" the bench asked the Delhi government's counsel.
The bomb blast near the iconic Mughal-era monument was carried out using a second-hand car, making the issue even more significant, it said.
The court listed the matter for further hearing in January 2026.
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The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) plea filed by an organisation, Towards Happy Earth Foundation, highlighting the challenges in the implementation of rules 55A to 55H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, introduced in December 2022 to regulate authorised dealers of registered vehicles.
While the rules were intended to bring accountability to the second-hand vehicle market, the petitioner's counsel argued that they have failed in practice due to regulatory gaps and procedural hurdles.
The plea said there is a major gap in the amended framework, that is, the absence of any statutory mechanism for reporting dealer-to-dealer transfers.
"In reality, most used vehicles pass through multiple dealers before reaching the final buyer, but the rules recognise only the first transfer to the initial authorised dealer.
"As a result, the chain of custody breaks after the first step, defeating the very purpose of accountability," the petition said.
It added that because of these gaps, only a very small percentage of dealers across India have been able to obtain authorised dealer registration and in Delhi, not a single dealer has got it.
Consequently, lakhs of vehicles continue to circulate without any record of who is actually in possession of those, it said.
The plea said only a small fraction of India's estimated 30,000 to 40,000 used-vehicle dealers are registered under the authorised-dealer framework.
The petition also pointed out that the 11-year-old vehicle used in the November 10 bomb blast near the Red Fort was sold several times but was still registered in its original owner's name.
The blast near the Red Fort had claimed 15 lives.
