'Our Officers Perform Puja When A Cow Passes Away': AMC Tells Gujarat High Court, Denies Mistreatment Of Impounded Cattle

AMC counsel GH Virk pointed out: “Let me only say one sentence, when a cattle passes away at any of the cattle pounds, my officers tell me that they, who are salaried employees of the corporation, carry out a puja. That is the extent to which they take care.”

"Yes, cows are worshipped and thus we made the observations in the previous hearing," the Court remarked.

The above remark came in response to the accusations made by the counsel representing certain cattle owners, who asserted that authorities were seizing cattle, even those not found roaming on the streets. The counsel went on to emphasize the deplorable conditions within the cattle pounds where the impounded animals were being housed by the authorities. He also underscored how the conditions in the pounds are highly unfavorable as they are excessively crowded, subjecting the animals to a harsh and cruel atmosphere.

The High Court was hearing a contempt plea filed by Nadiad resident Maulik Shrimali, over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressing the issue of stray cattle menace in cities and towns across the state, and seeking the Court's intervention to curb the issue of cattle menace in the state. The matter was being heard by the division bench of Justice Ashutosh Shastri and Justice Hemant Prachchhak.

Having heard the concerns raised regarding cattle pounds, the Court today granted liberty to the cattle owners' counsel to personally visit the pounds and inspect the same.

During the court hearing, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi presented the state's initiatives to enforce traffic rules effectively.

Trivedi informed the bench about measures taken to address issues such as illegal parking, wrong-side driving, and helmet-less motorists. He highlighted the identification of five accident-prone spots in Ahmedabad, where increased vigilance aims to prevent fatal accidents.

Acknowledging the submissions and the affidavit on record, the Court expressed a positive view on the government's progressive steps in addressing traffic issues. However, Justice Shastri emphasized the crucial role of citizens and their civic sense in ensuring the success of these measures.

The Court directed authorities to rigorously enforce the existing measures until January 5, instructing them to submit a report. The bench emphasized a strict vigilance period for the next 15 days and scheduled a follow-up hearing on January 5 to reassess the situation.

Case Title: Mustak Hussain Mehndi Hussain Kadri Vs Jagadip Narayan Singh, IAS And Ors

Case No.: MISC. CIVIL APPLICATION FOR CONTEMPT No. 979 of 2019