The Kerala High Court has declared as void and legally unenforceable the ownership certificates that recognised Malayalam film actor Mohanlal as the owner of two pairs of ivory tusks and 13 ivory artefacts.
A Division Bench comprising Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian struck down two State government orders issued in February 2015 and February 2016, as well as the subsequent ownership certificates granted to the actor in January and April 2016.
The Bench observed that the government had failed to meet the statutory obligations prescribed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 before issuing the certificates. However, the Court refrained from making observations on the manner in which the powers were exercised, citing the risk of influencing the ongoing criminal proceedings against the actor.
In its ruling, the Court said the government orders and certificates were &ldquo;void ab initio and unenforceable&rdquo;, but clarified that the State retains the power to issue a fresh notification under Section 40(4) of the Act. This provision empowers the State to require individuals to declare wild animal articles in their possession before any immunity or ownership certificate can be conferred.
The Bench remarked that such a declaration process is crucial before granting protection from prosecution under the Act. &ldquo;The State Government is at liberty to issue a fresh notification, in terms of Section 40(4) of the 1972 Act, for conferring the immunity envisaged under the said provision,&rdquo; the judgment noted.
The verdict came in response to two public interest litigations (PILs) filed by James Mathew and Paulose A.A., who contested the State&rsquo;s notifications under the Wildlife Act that had permitted Mohanlal to declare possession of the ivory items before the Chief Wildlife Warden.
According to the petitions, the notifications were not published in the official gazette, rendering them procedurally invalid, and the government had not conducted a proper inquiry into the legality of Mohanlal&rsquo;s possession of the ivory.
In September 2023, the High Court had stayed the trial proceedings under the Wildlife Protection Act against the actor. Mohanlal has consistently maintained that the ivory was obtained legally, and that the State-issued ownership certificatewas granted on the direction of the Central government.
Earlier, in June 2022, a magistrate court had rejected the State&rsquo;s request to withdraw the case, prompting both Mohanlal and the Kerala government to challenge the decision before the High Court.

Kerala High Court voids Mohanlal’s ivory certificates

Court rules State-issued ivory ownership certificates to actor Mohanlal as invalid

Kerala HC annuls Mohanlal’s ivory ownership

Court rules State-issued ivory ownership certificates to actor Mohanlal as invalid

October 24, 2025 | 21:05 IST