Published on : 24 Oct 2025, 8:44 am 3 min read

The Kerala High Court on Friday held that State-issued certificates that declared Malayalam actor Mohanlal as the owner of two pairs of elephant ivory tusks and 13 ivory artifacts were void and legally unenforceable. [ James Mathew v State of Kerala and connected case ].

A Division Bench of Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian struck down State government orders passed in the matter in February 2015 and February 2016, as well as the ownership certificates given to the actor thereafter in January and April 2016.

The Court held that the government had failed to comply with statutory requirements under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, before issuing the same.

It, however, refrained from getting into

See Full Page