Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Orders Elephant Corridor Survey as Ramesh Flags Destruction
Elephants walk very long distances, and the paths they use to travel from one forest to another are called elephant corridors.
A very important court in India, called the Supreme Court, said no one is allowed to block these elephant paths.
The court also said people cannot use fireballs or burning torches to scare elephants away.
It asked the government to check every state in the country and report where elephant corridors have been blocked.
Jairam Ramesh, a leader who used to be in charge of the environment, said elephant homes are being destroyed by mining and other building projects.
He said it seems like there is no will to protect elephants anymore.
Some people put up barriers because elephants can damage crops, but the court said that is still not allowed.
The court mentioned that elephants travel from Nepal through West Bengal to Jharkhand, and also between Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
The government has six weeks to send the court a full report about elephant corridors and what it is doing to keep them open.
Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh said elephant habitats and corridors are being systematically destroyed by mining and other projects.
The Supreme Court directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to conduct a fresh nationwide survey of elephant corridors and submit a comprehensive report within six weeks.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ruled that no state can construct obstacles or create blockades in elephant corridors, even to prevent crop and livelihood losses.
The court barred the use of fireballs and mashaals (torches) to chase away elephants.
Justice Bagchi noted fireballs and spikes are prevalent in West Bengal, where elephants come from Nepal and travel through the state to Jharkhand.
- Who
- Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
- What
- The Supreme Court ordered a nationwide survey of elephant corridors, barred obstacles and fireballs against elephants, and Jairam Ramesh said elephant habitats are being destroyed with the will to protect markedly absent.
- When
- Ramesh made his remarks on a Tuesday, a day after the Supreme Court's directive; the Centre's survey report is due within six weeks.
- Where
- India; cited corridors include routes through West Bengal, Jharkhand, Haryana's Yamuna Nagar, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, with elephants coming from Nepal.
- Why
- To ensure elephant corridors remain seamless and unobstructed, and to stop states from blocking wildlife paths to prevent crop and livelihood losses.
- Supreme Court directive
- Fresh nationwide survey of elephant corridors; Centre to submit comprehensive report within six weeks
- Bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant; Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
- Prohibited practices
- Obstacles, blockades, fireballs and mashaals (torches) against elephants
- Jairam Ramesh's position
- Elephant habitats systematically destroyed by mining and other projects; 'will to protect is absent'
- Elephant routes cited
- Nepal to West Bengal to Jharkhand; Haryana's Yamuna Nagar to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
- Ministry involved
- Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- Existing guidelines
- Mandatory environment ministry guidelines for unobstructed corridors, impeded or blocked due to local factors