Wednesday, 02 August 2023 | PNS | NAINITAL
Hearing on a public interest litigation on cruel treatment of stray animals in the State, the Uttarakhand High Court has directed the State government to submit an affidavit within four weeks. The division bench of chief justice Vipin Sanghi and justice Alok Kumar Verma issued this direction. On Tuesday, the animal welfare board submitted an affidavit stating that it is executing various welfare schemes for stray animals. Various NGOs are working on this and the board has also released budget for this, it stated. Objecting to this, the counsel for the petitioner contended that the data in the affidavit is limited to papers. Stray animals are forced to roam on the streets and localities which would not have been the case if welfare measures had been taken.
Haldwani resident Nirupama Bhatt Talwar had filed the PIL stating that people were abandoning their domesticated cattle, equines, buffaloes, dogs and cats on the roads, lands and jungles due to which the animals are facing cruelty. The petitioner has stated that people are indulging in various cruel acts to get rid of the stray animals. Hot water is being thrown on them to shoo them away from streets, electric current is being used to keep them out of farms and they are also being beaten with sticks, the petitioner stated. The government does not have figures regarding animal cruelty cases. The petitioner has requested the court to direct the government to facilitate shelter, medical treatment, food and water for stray animals and prevent cruelty towards them.
