PIL seeking modern slaughter houses in J&K
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO ‘SAVE’ (Save Animal Value Environment) through its Chairperson Devinder Kaur Madaan alias Rumpy Madaan seeking closure of un-regulated and un-registered/un-licensed slaughter houses/meat shops in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice (A) Rajesh Bindal and Justice Sanjay Dhar today imposed Rs 5000 cost on Commissioner/ Secretary Animal Husbandry Department for his non-apperance.
The Division Bench while imposing cost on Commissioner/ Secretary Animal Husbandry Department observed that on November 19, 2020 this court had directed officer to appear in person in court through video-conferencing.
Senior AAG S S Nanda submitted that a status report has been filed mentioning that Animal Husbandry Department has nothing to do in the case in hand regarding construction of slaughter house. Exemption from personal appearance was also sought.
“The status report has been filed by the Director, Animal Husbandry Department Jammu and there is no separate application of the Commissioner/Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department seeking exemption from his personal appearance”, the DB said, adding “this only shows arrogance on the part of the officer concerned”.
“Neither he has filed any affidavit with the status report under signatures, when he had been called to appear in person nor any exemption application for personal appearance has been filed by him”, the DB said, adding “when he was directed to appear in person, either he should have appeared or filed his own affidavit mentioning details along with prayer for exemption from appearance, if sought”.
“The mind set of non-compliance of the orders passed by the court need to be changed. For his non-appearance, the Commissioner/ Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu is burdened with personal cost of Rs 5,000 and the same shall be deposited with the Registry of this court within four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of the order”, the DB said.
“Ashish Gupta, Joint Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation has submitted that approval for allotment of tender for construction of the slaughter house has been received from the competent authority. The work shall be allotted to the successful bidder within two weeks”, the DB observed, adding “as per the conditions in the DPR the project is to be completed within 12 months”.
DB said, “in so far as the construction of the slaughter house at Srinagar is concerned, on February 26, 2020 statement was made before the court that the construction is in progress and is likely to be completed within next 7-8 months. Senior AAG submitted that the work was in progress, however, because of COVID-19, the same was delayed”.
DB directed that the present status of the construction of the slaughter house at Srinagar be conveyed to the court on the next date of hearing.
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