Balram Kumawat vs Union Of India & Ors.

The Supreme Court addressed whether 'mammoth ivory', derived from an extinct prehistoric species, falls under the definition of 'ivory imported in India' as specified in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The appellants argued that mammoth ivory is fundamentally different from elephant ivory because it originates from an extinct species rather than a living animal. The Court examined the statutory interpretation of the ivory trade restrictions to determine if fossilized mammoth ivory is subject to the same prohibitions as contemporary elephant ivory.