Mankara Kovilagam Manager Vedapuratti alias Valia Thampuratti Avergal and Others and Maunnargaht Mooppil Nair vs Malamkattil Koppan Nair and Others

The 1st defendant, Mannarghat Nair, had in his possession the elephants - both tuskers - of the plaintiff and of defendants Nos. 5 to 14 (who

represent the Mankada Kovilagam) which he had obtained from them for processional purposes in a temple. The Mankada elephant gored the

plaintiff''s elephant to death. The plaintiff brought this suit for damages. The Subordinate Judge found that the Mankada elephant was known by the

defendants to be vicious and accordingly awarded damages against the 1st defendant and the Mankada Kovilagam. In appeal the Judge, Mr.

Munro, held that the Mankada elephant is an animal ferae naturae and that it was therefore unnecessary to consider whether it was vicious or there

was any negligence, and confirmed the decree of the Subordinate Judge.

It is contended in appeal that this finding is not correct in law and in the absence of any negligence or knowledge on the part of the defendants of

the vicious nature of the elephant, if it is vicious the defendants are not liable. There is also a further contention on the part of the 5th defendant that

she is not liable in any event, as the elephant was in the possession of the 1st defendant when it killed the plaintiff''s elephant.

The leading case is Filburm v. People''s Palace Aquarium Co. (1890) 25 Q.B.D. 261. In that case Lord Esher lays down : ""The law of England

recognises two distinct classes of animals, and as to one of those classes, i) cannot be doubted that a person who keeps an animal belonging to

that class must prevent it from doing injury, and it is immaterial whether he knows it to be dangerous are not. As to another class, the law assumes

that animals belonging to it or not of a dangerous nature, and any one who keeps an animal of this kind is not liable for the damage it may do,

unless he new that it was dangerous. As to the latter class he lays down that there are some animals which everybody recognises as not being

dangerous on account of their nature thought they might be fera naturae so far as rights of property are concerned : there is another set which the

law has recognized in England as not being of a dangerous character such as horses, dogs, oxen, etc : unless an animal falls within these two

classes, the man who keeps it must take the responsibility of keeping it safe."" It is impossible to say, as the same learned Judge points out, that an

elephant is harmless by nature. The contention before us is that it falls within the same category as a horse. The test, according to Lord Esher; for

determining this is whether years ago and continuously up to the present time the progeny of this class of animals has been found by experience to

be harmless. In that case the law assumes the result of this experience to be correct. It is true that in ancient Rome it is said that elephants were

bred in captivity and the Romans made use of them in war, in the amphitheatre and in military pageants. The results of their experience have not

been handed down to us. Though common in those days elephants are said to have been almost unknown for centuries in Europe after the decline

of the Roman Empire. The kings of ancient India, like the Carthagenians, employed them in wars but whether they were bred in captivity it does

not appear. It is certain, however, that though elephants have been known to breed in captivity it is of the rarest occurence in India, although in

Burma it is said such births or common, owing to the fact that domesticated females or allowed to aoam in jungles. Domesticated or tamed animals

in India have been reclaimed from the wild states, and it is conceded in this case that the Mankada elephants when wild, even after they are tamed,

their nature often asserts itself. If, therefore, we apply the test laid down by Lord Esher in India we cannot presume that the elephant is not of a

dangerous nature. Lindley L.J. and Bowen L.J. also lay down that the question is whether the particular class of animals is dangerous, though

individual animals may be tamed, and if a person keeps an animal belonging to a class which is dangerous, he takes the risk of any damage it may

do. Elephants, undoubtedly, as a class, are dangerous, though individuals may be tamed and perhaps domesticated.

In SALMOND on the law of Torts, p. 365, the lawis stated in the following terms : ""Whether any particular kind of mischief is natural or not to

a particular species of animal is, it seems, a question of law."" Thus it is a rule of of law and not a mere proposition of fact that it is not natural for a

dog to bite mankind. ""The law,"" says Lord Holt, ""takes notice that a dog is not of a fierce nature but rather the contrary."" So it has been decided

that ""it is natural for strange horses to kick one another when left at large in a field or for a stallion to bite and kick a mare, but that it is not natural

for a horse straying in the highway to kick a human being."" It is clearly in the nature of a tusker, when left at large, to attack another.

A case Maung Kyaw Dum v. Ma Kyin & Narayanan Chetti Upper Burma Rulings Vol. II 579, has been cited in which Mr. Justice White,

sitting as a single Judge, laid down the law in these words : ""It could not, I think be laid down in this country that a man is liable for damages done

by his elephant without any proof of negligence or that he knew it to be of a vicious disposition. In view of the manner in, and extent to which

elephants are emplyed in this country, such a proposition would be manifestly unjust."" These remarks apply to Burma, where the circumstances are

not altogether similar to those in India, but it was argued before us that considering the extent to to which elephants are employed in India, the

same principle should be followed. The absolute liability of a person for any harm done by his animal, independently of any intent or negligence on

his part, does not depend, as we have pointed out, on the manner in, or extent to, which such animals are employed, but upon the nature of the

class to which such animal belongs or the particular kind of mischief committed.

We think that the Mankada Kovilagam the owner, also is liable. Both the owner and the 1st defendant are responsible for the loss sustained by

the plaintiff. No authority has been cited to support the 5th defendant''s contention that the 1st defendant alone is liable. Whether, on account of

any implied contract between her and the 1st defendant, the latter was not bound to take due care to prevent any damage and is not, therefore,

bound to compensate the 5th defendant is not a question that now arises for consideration. The second appeals are dismissed with costs of the

plaintiff.