The Ivory Saga Ends: Kerala High Court Calls Mohanlal's Certificates 'Void'

It seems even the most revered figures in cinema aren't immune to the long, discerning arm of the law, especially when it comes to wildlife protection. Indeed, in a decision that's sure to reverberate across Kerala and beyond, the High Court has, for all intents and purposes, declared the ownership certificates for superstar Mohanlal’s four elephant tusks as utterly null and void.

This isn't just a simple bureaucratic cancellation; oh no. Justice Devan Ramachandran, presiding over the case, meticulously—you could say—dissected the legality of those certificates, ultimately finding them to be in direct contravention of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Specifically, the court pointed to Section 36A of the Act, a crucial piece of legislation that, after a particular date, simply doesn't permit the issuance of new ownership certificates for ivory. It’s a pretty clear-cut rule, designed to curb the trade and possession of such items, and the court wasn't about to make an exception, celebrity status notwithstanding. And honestly, why should it?

Now, for those perhaps not entirely up to speed on this rather protracted saga, these particular tusks have quite a history. They were, in truth, seized from the actor’s home back in 2011. Imagine that: a high-profile seizure, sparking considerable debate even then. Fast forward to 2015, and a bit of a curveball, really, as the government, then, decided to return them. A year later, in 2016, came the certificates of ownership, a move that, unsurprisingly, raised more than a few eyebrows among wildlife activists and conservationists. They weren't just going to let that slide, were they?

And so, a legal challenge was mounted by groups like the Heritage Animal Task Force and a certain Mr. A. A. Muhafiz. Their argument, in essence, was that those certificates were illegitimate from the get-go, directly undermining the spirit and letter of the law meant to protect these magnificent creatures. They questioned how the state could essentially legalize possession of something so clearly restricted. And, well, the High Court, after careful deliberation, has—decisively, one might add—agreed with them.

The ramifications? Mohanlal, a towering figure in Malayalam cinema, will now have to hand over these four tusks to the Forest Department. It’s a clear message, isn't it? That the law is, indeed, supreme, and that the protection of endangered species, or parts thereof, remains a paramount concern. This ruling, in truth, isn't just about one actor; it's a significant reinforcement of wildlife conservation principles across the board. It underscores that loopholes, if they ever truly existed, are being systematically closed. A victory, you could say, for the wild itself.