HC issue directions to MCD on stray cattle

New delhi, June 14 (UNI) Coming down heavily on the authorities for not implementing the court orders to remove stray cattle from the city roads, the Delhi High Court issued directions to the Muncipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to start the drive against the menace by June 30, 2007.

The court directed the MCD to constitute a task force for catching the cattle and transporting them in the trucks to the gaushalas. The MCD had recently assured the court that they have purchased a fleet of 12 hydraulic trucks which will be on the roads by June 30. The court had suggested two solutions to remove stray cattle from the roads.

One was the removal of cattle from the roads to the gaushalas by trucks and the other was to remove the dairies from the city and rehabilitate them outside the city. The Court also directed MCD to relocate the dairies in a time bound manner and sought its compliance report by August 2008.

The court directed the muncipal corporation of Delhi(MCD) to file a compliance report of its orders on or before August 31,2008.The court said,"In case the directions issued by this court are not complied with in letter and spirit, the Comissioner of MCD shall remain present in person to explain as to why suitable action for defiance of the orders passed by this court be not initiated against him.

Delhi High Court had observed "The menace of stray cattle is hazardous and causes traffic snarls.It affects the safety of human beings on the road. It has the potential to cause accidents. Besides it depicts a very dismal picture of the capital.It is also very cruel on the bovine animals as they are let loose on the roads because their owners do not want to feed them.These animals have to fend for themseves. They eat whatever comes their way including garbage and plastic bags.

This affects their health and causes extreme trauma to them" the Court adds.

''The capital city of Delhi should be a show window for the world. The Stray cattle on the roads give a wrong signal.Cattle and other animals which are let loose on the roads by their owners are also responsible for filth, squalor and outbreak of diseases." The court held that the state and its agencies were impervious to the menace and had taken no affective steps to prevent the cattle and the bovine animals from taking to the roads thereby affecting the quality of life of the citizens.

The state by neglecting to perform its duty in preventing the menace of stray cattle is avoiding implementation of article 48 of the constitution. It is the duty of the state to keep in view the directive principles of the state policy which are fundamental in the governance of the country and to apply these principals in making the laws.

The court observed that the authorities have yet to make a law to prevent the owners of bovine animals including cattle and cows from being let loose.

UNI