In a major setback for actor Mohanlal, the Kerala High Court on Friday declared the Forest Department’s ownership certificates for ivory items in his possession “void ab initio and legally unenforceable."

However, a Division Bench of Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian clarified that the state government could issue a fresh notification under Section 40(4) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, if it intends to allow the actor to retain the ivory articles.

The verdict came in response to a petition filed by Paulose KA of Eloor, Kochi, challenging the state government’s notifications under Section 40(4) of the Act, which had permitted Mohanlal to declare two pairs of ivory tusks and 13 ivory artefacts before the Chief Wildlife Warden and subsequently obtain ownership cer

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