Violate rules, get cattle seized: Telangana High Court

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the state government to take action against those who violated the Animal Welfare Board’s rules on the transportation of animals. This means seizing all cattle, cows, calves, bulls, bullocks, buffaloes, camels, etc that have been illegally transported to Greater Hyderabad and other parts of the state, and are being sold in the open market without proper permissions.

Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy was dealing with a petition by the Delhi based Gau Gyan Foundation and Kakarla Harish Kumar from Hyderabad, who alleged that the state police is not taking action to prevent illegal transportation, hoarding and slaughter of milch animals in the state of Telangana, as mandated by the circular issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India and Supreme Court orders.

Chinnolla Naresh Reddy, counsel for the petitioners, submitted that in connection with the forthcoming Bakrid festival, cattle in huge numbers is being illegally transported to the city and he submitted several photographs related to that.

Mr Reddy said in spite of the orders given by this court last year, the police is mute spectators and is not taking action on the offenders, who illegally transport cattle.

Gadipally Malla Reddy, counsel for the home department, submitted that the police had established 27 check posts in various parts of the city to restrain the illegal transportation of cattle.

He said that the DGP had issued a circular to monitor the transportation of cattle.

He also said that police had been responding to complaints and phone calls by animal welfare organisations about illegal transportation by attending to calls
immediately.