- HC dissatisfies with working of Gaushala
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Jammu comprising its Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan & Justice M. A. Choudhary has expressed dissatisfaction over the deficiencies pointed out in the working of Gushala/Cattle Pond at Seri Khud (Nagrota) by the Court Commissioner namely Zia-ul-Qamar and Dr. Priayanka Malhotra Veterinary Surgeon from JMC and directed Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and MVO 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 (Nagrota).
When the instant P.I.L. came up for hearing Advocate S. S. Ahmed with Advocate Rahul Raina, Supriya Chauhan and M. Zulkarnain Choudhary appearing for the petitioner submitted that voiceless animal at cattle pond/Gaushala are in bad shade and there are unhygienic conditions at Seri Khurd (Nagrota) and JMC also outsources the Gaushala to Gauraksha Samiti and the said 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. Animals not allowed to access the forest area for grazing. No Veterinarian or supervisory staff found at the time of visit. Electricity facilities not upto the mark. Six number of horses were found in unhealthy/weak condition in a separate shed, however, they were also found untagged only to male and one female labourer were available in the shelter meaning thereby, there is insufficient manpower which is also required to be given due attention.
Advocate S.S. Ahmed also referred the deficiencies pointed out by Dr. Priyanaka Malhotra In-Charge Cattle Pound Nagrota wherein she disclosed shortage of manpower, stocking of expired medicines, failure to provide adequate diet to animals, failure to remove cow dung from Cattle Pound, failed to issue identity cards to workers/attendants deployed at the Cattle Pound.
After considering the submissions of Advocate S.S. Ahmed the Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan expressed concern and dissatisfaction in the open Court over the two reports regarding the malfunctioning of Gaushala and put a specific query to Advocate Harshwardhan Gupta as to what action has been taken by J.M.C upon the two reports referred in the Open Court.
Advocate Harshwardhan submitted that he may be given sometime to file action taken report/outcome of notice dated August 21, 2024, upon this Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan directed J.M.C to file action taken report (ATR) by or before the next date of hearing.
Sr. AAG S.S. Nanda and Advocate Nancy Mahajan vice Advocate Danish Bhat also appeared in the PIL.
