NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on 30th April issued notices to more than 15 states on a public interest petition filed by the Wildlife Trust of India relating to the conservation of elephants.The Chief Justice of India, Mr. V.N. Khare and his companion judges have asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Union of India as well as different states to file a reply.

The issues raised in this petition relate to the long-term survival of wild elephants in India and controlling the illegal ivory trade. The petition also questioned the steps taken by state governments to seize illegal stocks of ivory lying with traders.

WTI has also asked for details of the details of the quantity of ivory stock lying with government authorities recovered from naturally dead elephants and seized ivory. There are reports that ivory stolen from government custody is entering the trade, the petition said. States have been given four weeks to reply.