Kerala HC Declares Mohanlal's Ivory Ownership Certificates Void

The Kerala High Court ruled the Forest Department's ivory ownership certificates for actor Mohanlal are void. Due to lacking official gazette publication, they are legally unenforceable. The state government may issue a new notification under Section 40(4) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to potentially rectify this issue.

The Kerala High Court on Friday declared the ivory ownership certificates issued to actor Mohanlal by the Forest Department as void and legally unenforceable. The decision came as the certificates lacked mandatory publication in the official gazette.

This ruling arose from a petition filed by Paulose K A challenging government notifications that had previously allowed Mohanlal to declare ivory possessions. Despite complying with government notifications, the core legal issue was the failure to fulfill statutory requirements.

The court emphasized that the absence of official gazette publication invalidated the government orders. However, it left room for the state government to issue fresh notifications under Section 40(4) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act if they intend to legitimize the actor's ivory possessions.

(With inputs from agencies.)