Guwahati, Nov. 5 -- The Supreme Court has reiterated that its earlier directions on verifying the ownership and identity of captive elephants, as well as regulating their transportation, must be strictly followed, amid concerns over the recent transfer of five elephants from Assam to temples in Tamil Nadu.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant was hearing a petition filed by People for Cattle in India (PFCI), which questioned the procedure followed in transferring the five elephants.

The Court observed that neither a High Court nor a state government can act contrary to its directions. It also noted that if a hasty exercise had been brought to its notice, it would have intervened.

Appearing for PFCI, senior advocate Meenaksh...