The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that wherever the spikes or fireballs are being used for driving elephants, remedial steps should be taken by the concerned states for removing the spikes and desist from the use of fireballs.

During today’s hearing, the bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta was submitted an affidavit of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stating that two instructions have been issued to all the concerned Principal Chief Conservators of Forest (PCCF) to desist from using any method of torture of elephants.

The bench was hearing a plea concerning the protection and conservation of forests throughout the country, protection of wildlife, ban on felling of trees and falling of underground water level.

—India Legal Bureau