Sun Jul 06 05:16:28 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Madras High Court has impleaded the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in a case concerning an alleged electric fence on the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham campus in Coimbatore district, which is accused of hindering elephant movement. The court aims to determine if the Math violated any conditions set by the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and the Forest Department regarding land use and wildlife protection. The case originated from a petition filed by a forest activist, and the Coimbatore Collector had previously outlined conditions for land use changes, including maintaining a buffer zone and not disturbing wildlife.
**News Article:**
**Madras High Court Impleads Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Elephant Movement Case**
**CHENNAI, July 6, 2025** – The Madras High Court has taken suo motu action by impleading the Mata Amritanandamayi Math as a respondent in a case concerning the alleged erection of a two-kilometer electric fence on the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham campus in Coimbatore district. The fence is accused of obstructing the movement of elephants near the Bouluvampatty ranges of the Western Ghats.
A special Division Bench, comprised of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, has directed the High Court Registry to issue a notice to the Math, returnable by June 25. The court seeks to ascertain whether the institution has violated any conditions imposed by the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and the Forest Department regarding land use and wildlife protection.
The case stems from a petition filed by forest activist M. Siva, who alleges that the fence is disrupting elephant migration routes. According to Coimbatore Collector G. Pavankumar, the Math had applied in April 2023 to change the land use designation of 12.622 hectares from agricultural to educational purposes.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) subsequently submitted a list of 17 conditions for the land use change to be considered, including the maintenance of a 150-meter buffer zone along the reserve forest boundary and a prohibition on disturbing wildlife. The DTCP granted permission to the Math, directing them to adhere to these conditions, which also mandated that any fencing comply with the Tamil Nadu Power Fences (Registration and Regulation) Rules, 2023, and not impede the free movement of migratory animals.
The court stated that it found it necessary to implead the Math “in order to ascertain whether any of the conditions have been violated and since no decision can be taken without affording an opportunity of hearing to the said private institution.” The court hopes to resolve the matter while prioritizing the protection of local elephant populations.
First Piper 