Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 – Newspapers report about looting and plunder of forest wealth and wild life are matters of public interest –Elephant is a wild animal -Suit for defamation - News with caption of theft of elephant tusk.

Elephant is a wild animal as defined under the Act. No licence obtained under the Act. Elephant killed and the tusks would be the property of the State Government and did not belong to him. [ Nellikka Achuthan vs. The Desabhimani Printing and Publishing House . AIR 1986 Ker 41. K.Sukumaran (J) ].