The Supreme Court has said that courts will always support animals suffering silently when humans and businesses block their migration routes. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant postponed hearing petitions from hotel and resort owners in the Nilgiris to January. The bench said, "All of you are there for commercial purposes and in the elephant corridor. These constructions interfere with elephant movement… The benefit must go to these animals who are silent victims of these commercial developments." Hotel owners are upset after the Tamil Nadu government declared elephant corridors in the Sigur Plateau, Nilgiris, ordering the clearing of forest land. The Madras High Court backed the Supreme Court panel's view that land bought by private parties in these corridors is illegal and buildings there should be removed. There are over 800 structures including 39 resorts and 390 houses inside the Sigur elephant corridor. Senior advocates Salman Khurshid and Shoeb Alam argued that many owners bought the property before the corridor notification and should be allowed to continue their "eco-friendly" business without expansion. Alam said related cases should be heard together in January. The Supreme Court postponed the next hearing to the first week of January.