Shillong, March 22: The Meghalaya High Court on Friday directed the state authorities to take punitive action against buyer of cattle in case of violation against the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Disposing of a writ petition, a bench headed by Chief Justice IP Mukerji said, “In view of the order dated 26th May, 2023 disposing of the earlier writ (PIL No.2 of 2021 ), no further order needs to be passed in the writ save and except a direction that the authorities will keep on strictly complying with the said order dated 26th May, 2023 and also ensure that the buyer of cattle under the aforesaid impugned notifications strictly comply with the said Act and Rules and that the authorities take punitive action against them in case of violation. This writ is accordingly disposed of.”
This writ filed by Dhyan Foundation, a Non -Governmental Organisation having and Tankala Naga Chandrani have challenged two orders of the state dated 21st December, 2018 and 8th February, 2019.
These orders pertain to identification and creation of Gaushalas’ for keeping cattle and livestock seized by the authorities in or near the international border in Meghalaya on the ground of illegal importation.
The petitioners are aggrieved by the provision in these orders directing the authorities to obtain an order from the competent court for sale of the seized cattle.
Counsel for the petitioners submits that if the cattle is sold, the authorities would have no control over the type or antecedents of the buyer or over his complying with the said Act and Rules.
“I feel that such apprehension is unfounded. The authorities may exert the same power under the said Act and Rules over the buyer as they do in respect of the original owner,” the Chief Justice said.
The PIL No.2 of 2021 -Gau Gyan Foundation v. Union of India & Ors was disposed of by a Division Bench by its order dated 26th May, 2023.
In this order, a reliance was placed on a status report filed by the respondents further to an order dated 4th May, 2023.
The Court, on going through the status report, expressed complete satisfaction with the steps taken by the respondents under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Rules framed thereunder with regard, inter alia, to the transportation and keeping of cattle and other animals, the method of slaughter, dealing with the skin fur, carcass, etc., after slaughter exposure to public view and treatment of the meat put up for sale in meat shops after slaughter and so on.
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