Dis-satisfaction expressed over working of Gaushala
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 25: A Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M A Choudhary has expressed dissatisfaction over the working of Gaushala/Cattle Pond at Seri Khud in Nagrota and directed Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Dr Priyanka Malhotra, Municipal Veterinary Officer to visit Gaushala again and file latest updated status report.
These directions were passed by the Division Bench in the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL No.25/2017) file by NGO SAVE (Save Animal Value Environment) through its Chairperson Devinder Kour Madan alias Rumpy Madan seeking appropriate directions to JMC for proper upkeep of cattle and proper maintenance of cattle pond/Gaushala situated at village Seri Khurd in Nagrota.
When the instant PIL came up for hearing, Advocate S S Ahmed with Advocate Rahul Raina, Supriya Chauhan and M Zulkarnain Choudhary appearing for the petitioner submitted, “voiceless animals at cattle pond/Gaushala are in bad condition. The JMC has outsourced the Gaushala to Gauraksha Samiti and the NGO is unable to cater to the voiceless animals”.
Advocate S S Ahmed, in the open court, read the report of the Court Commissioner Zia-ul-Qamar wherein several deficiencies were pointed out including non-segregation between cows, lactating cows, baby calves and some bulls were found locked in the same sheds, sick and injured animals also kept with healthy animals in the same shed.
“No Veterinarian or supervisory staff was found at the time of visit. Electricity facilities are not up to the mark. Six number of horses were found in unhealthy/weak condition in a separate shed, however, they were also found untagged, Moreover, there is insufficient manpower which is also required to be given due attention”, he further submitted.
After considering the submissions of Advocate S S Ahmed the Division Bench expressed concern over two reports regarding the malfunctioning of Gaushala and put a specific query to Advocate Harshwardhan Gupta as to what action has been taken by JMC upon these reports. Advocate Harshwardhan submitted that he may be given sometime to file action taken report/outcome of notice dated 21-08-2024.
Upon this, Division Bench directed JMC to file Action Taken Report (ATR) by or before the next date of hearing. Senior AAG S S Nanda and Advocate Nancy Mahajan vice Advocate Danish Bhat also appeared in the PIL.
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