KOCHI (2 March 2026) — Coming down heavily on the state administration following a series of fatal elephant attacks, the Kerala High Court on Monday directed the Chief Secretary to submit a comprehensive, time-bound roadmap to address human-wildlife conflict. A Division Bench comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian summoned the state’s top bureaucrats, observing that “every loss of life represents a failure of governance.”
Judicial Rebuke Following Aralam Fatality
The court’s intervention was triggered by the tragic death of Aneesh A.S. (40), a resident of the Aralam Tribal Rehabilitation and Development Mission (TRDM) area, who was trampled by a wild elephant on Friday. The bench expressed deep dissatisfaction that such an incident occurred in a region already under judicial monitoring.
“If this is the fate of hapless tribal residents in an area being monitored by this court, one shudders to think about the fate of residents in other conflict areas which are not under judicial surveillance.” — Kerala High Court
Requirements for the New Roadmap
The court has mandated that the Chief Secretary coordinate across all departments—Forest, SC/ST Development, Revenue, and Disaster Management—to produce a structured action plan by March 12, 2026.
The roadmap must include:
- Robust Defense Mechanisms: Specific proposals for the construction of elephant-proof walls and the installation of hanging solar fences around the TRDM area in Aralam and high-conflict zones in Wayanad.
- Defined Timelines: A clear schedule for when these physical barriers will be completed.
- Inter-Departmental Synergy: Measures to resolve the “bureaucratic roadblocks” that arise because farms, tribal missions, and forests fall under different administrative heads.
- Utilization of Disaster Funds: Since the state has declared human-wildlife conflict a “state-specific natural disaster,” the court instructed the government to utilize allocations available under the Disaster Management Act for these urgent projects.
Immediate Relief for Aralam Residents
Beyond physical security, the court addressed the “deplorable” living conditions in the Aralam farm area:
- Drinking Water: The court noted a Government Order (GO) dated February 10, 2026, for the supply of water via tanker lorries. The Chief Secretary must report on the progress of this supply and the restoration of the Jalanidhi infrastructure.
- Zero Compensation Drive: The court noted the Forest Minister’s recent announcement to clear all pending wildlife conflict compensation claims by March 31, 2026, but insisted that financial relief is not a substitute for the protection of life under Article 21.
Current Context: The “State-Specific Disaster”
Kerala is currently witnessing a significant spike in wildlife incursions. While snakebite fatalities have decreased by nearly 85% over the last decade, elephant and tiger attacks in Wayanad and Aralam remain a critical threat. The state currently operates 28 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) and has deployed nearly 4,000 volunteers across 171 high-risk panchayats to manage the crisis.
Sources
- Live Law: “Kerala High Court Directs Chief Secretary To File Comprehensive Roadmap…” (2 March 2026)
- The Hindu: “HC raps State after tribal resident killed by wild elephant in Aralam…” (28 February 2026)
- Times of India: “Explain steps being taken to tackle human-wildlife conflict: Kerala HC to chief secy” (2 March 2026)
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Kerala HC seeks roadmap from state to tackle human-wildlife conflict…” (2 March 2026)
- Onmanorama: “12 major conflict zones identified: Forest dept report” (9 February 2026)
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