Construction of cattle pound at Nagrota
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 22: Division Bench of the State High Court comprising First Puisne Judge Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Sindhu Sharma has sought the personal appearance of Municipal Veterinary Officer to apprise the court about the plan prepared for construction of cattle pound at village Seri Khurd in Nagrota.
The direction was issued in a Public Interest Litigation filed by an NGO “SAVE” through its Chairperson Devinder Kour Madaan alias Rumpy Madaan seeking closure of 59 illegal/unregistered milk dairies running within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation and regulating the functioning of existing 57 number of registered dairies as per the existing norms and guidelines issued by JMC under Section 44(n) of Jammu Municipal Corporation Act, 2000. The PIL further highlights inadequate cattle pounds in Jammu City despite huge population of stray cattle.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina, Supriya Chouhan, Intakhab Ahmed Qazi and Mohd. Zulkarnain Choudhary appearing for the petitioner whereas Advocate Sachin Gupta for JMC, Government Advocate Ayjaz Lone for the Forest Department and Advocate Amita Khajuria for National Food Safety and Standard Authority of India, New Delhi, the Division Bench, while expressing its displeasure over the massive levelling of the land earmarked for construction of cattle pound, directed that the Municipal Veterinary Officer Jammu shall appear in person to apprise the court as to which authority has taken the decision to level the land.
Advocate Ahmed drew the attention of the Division Bench towards the latest status report filed by Jammu Municipal Corporation wherein it has been submitted that Divisional Forest Officer Jammu was not allowing the JMC to continue with the levelling work on the ground that the land belongs to Forest Department.
After going through the status report and also the photographs attached with it, DB expressed its deep concern over the levelling of the entire land by disturbing the natural habitat. Division Bench put a specific question to Advocate Sachin Gupta appearing for JMC as to on whose directions the ground levelling work of the entire land has started.
Advocate Gupta submitted that it was only the Municipal Veterinary Officer Jammu who can answer the query of the court and because of some meeting the officer was out of station.
After considering the submissions of both the sides the Division Bench sought personal appearance of Municipal Veterinary Officer in order to apprise the court about the plan prepared for the construction of cattle pound.
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