The Kerala High Court has directed the Chief Secretary to submit a detailed, time-bound roadmap to curb rising human-wildlife conflict in Aralam and Wayanad. The Court stressed urgent preventive steps, including elephant-proof barriers and effective coordination across departments.
The Kerala High Court has taken serious note of the rising human-wildlife conflict in parts of the State, especially in Wayanad and the Tribal Rehabilitation and Development Mission (TRDM) area in Aaralam, Kannur. In a strong intervention, the Court has directed the Chief Secretary of Kerala to submit a detailed and time-bound roadmap explaining how the government plans to tackle the growing crisis.
A Division Bench comprising Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian was hearing petitions related to repeated wildlife intrusions into residential areas in Wayanad and Aralam. The issue gained urgency after the tragic death of a tribal man in an elephant attack at Aralam Farm.
The Court had earlier expressed concern over the condition of the area and had asked the Chief Secretary, the Secretary of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Department, and the Chief Wildlife Warden to appear before it through video conference.
During the latest hearing held on Tuesday, the Bench interacted directly with senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Chief Wildlife Warden. The Advocate General also made submissions on behalf of the State.
Taking note of the seriousness of the situation, the Court observed that the Chief Secretary must take the lead in coordinating with all concerned departments and place before the Court a clear and structured action plan.
The Bench directed that the roadmap should contain practical steps to prevent wild animals, especially elephants, from entering human settlements. These measures must include the construction of elephant-proof walls and the installation of hanging solar-powered fencing around the TRDM area in Aaralam and other vulnerable regions in Wayanad.
The Court made it clear that the action plan must not be vague and should clearly mention specific timelines for implementation.
Apart from wildlife safety, the Court also examined the issue of drinking water supply in the TRDM areas of Aralam. The State informed the Bench that a government order dated February 10, 2026 has been issued to ensure regular tanker water supply until the Jalanidhi scheme infrastructure is repaired and restored.
The Bench directed that the Chief Secretary’s report must include full details about the progress made under the said government order. This includes information about the interim water supply arrangements and steps taken for the restoration of the Jalanidhi infrastructure.
Expressing deep concern over the ground situation, the Court orally observed that the problem was becoming a serious crisis. It further noted that funds available under the Disaster Management Act could be utilised to deal with the issue, particularly since the human-wildlife conflict has already been recognised as a State-specific natural disaster.
The Court has now posted the matter for further consideration on March 13, 2026. The upcoming hearing will examine whether the State has prepared a comprehensive and time-bound roadmap to protect tribal communities and other residents living in conflict-prone areas from recurring wildlife attacks.
The High Court’s directions underline the urgent need for coordinated administrative action to ensure both human safety and responsible wildlife management in Kerala’s sensitive forest-border regions.
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