The High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to file counter objections in a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the proposed translocation of captive elephants to Madhya Pradesh.

The petitioner - Compassion Unlimited Plus Action - had sought to restrain the government from translocating 29 elephants to Madhya Pradesh. It had contended that the change of habitat will affect the health of elephants and they have higher chances of contracting tuberculosis.