Kerala High Court Comes To The Rescue Of Abandoned Buffaloes: Directs Tahsildar To Hand Them Over To PFA

The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Palakkad tahsildar to hand over the buffaloes kept in the custody of the municipality to an authorised representative of the People For Animals (PFA).

Justice TR Ravi issued the order on the petition filed by PFA, an organization interested in the welfare of the buffaloes and Ahimsa Farm Animal Sanctuary, which were found abandoned in a private property

The petitioner organisation had sought a directive from the Court to hand over the custody of these buffaloes, complaining that the animals are in distress, they are not given proper care, and that several of them are dying.

On an earlier occasion, the Court had passed an interim order to the concerned Veterinary Surgeon to inspect the animals kept in a building belonging to the Municipality and to ensure that necessary medical assistance was given to them.

Thereafter, the Bench had directed the petitioners to place on record the manner in which they planned to transport the animals to Thiruvananthapuram, if they are permitted to take custody of the animals. 

Advocate Bhanu Thilak appeared for the petitioner and submitted that the animals will be transported from Palakkad to Ahimsa Farm Animal Sanctuary situated in Kollam. They guaranteed to take all necessary precautions for safely transporting them on a Bharat Benz Truck in three trips.

They also undertook that necessary medical care will be provided for the buffaloes during the transportation and no harm will be caused to them.

On these grounds, the Court directed PFA to produce the necessary authorisation and proper identification which will facilitate the tahsildar to ensure that the animals are being handed over to the right person.

The representative of the petitioners was further directed to submit an undertaking before the tahsildar on the lines of what they have said before the Court and on receipt of such an undertaking, the tahsildar may proceed to hand over the animals to the representative.

The petitioners should comply with all the undertakings that have been given before the court while transporting the animals, the Bench emphasised.

The petitioners were also appreciated for having volunteered to take over the care of these abandoned animals even though they were located in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam respectively.

Case Title: People for Animals & Anr. v. State of Kerala & Ors.

Click Here To Read The Order