SC directs Delhi govt to handover stray monkeys to wild life warde

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the Delhi government to handover 300 stray monkeys caught by it during anti -stray animals operation, to the Chief wild life warden of Madhya Pradesh.

A Bench, comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal Justice C K Thakker and R V Raveendran, also directed Delhi to pay Rs 25 lakhs to the MP state government.

Today's order came on a PIL filed by Gita Seshamani seeking directions to the centre and Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, to check the menace by the growing population of stray animals like dogs and monkeys, by sterilising them and also by adopting other measures.

The court had earlier directed the Centre to check from the Chief Secretaries of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, MP and Uttaranchal whether they can identify appropriate sites in their respective states for shifting these stray animals.

In order to overcome resistance from the people against catching monkeys, due to their religious faith and sentiments, the court had earlier directed the government to launch a public awareness program to educate the people.

UNI AKS SC AD RN1645