The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the death of 30 cows impounded and kept in a cattle pound as part of the state government’s policy to address the stray cattle menace, stating that ‘innocent animals can’t be sacrificed for public comfort.’ The division bench of Justices Ashutosh Shastri and Hemant Prachchhak described the photograph of cow carcasses dumped in an open land belonging to the Nadiad Municipal Corporation as ‘very disturbing & shocking.’ The court has sought a report from the district collector regarding the incident.
Additionally, the court considered an affidavit filed by Nadiad resident Maulik Shrimali in a contempt of court plea related to a PIL seeking its direction to curb the cattle menace. Shrimali mentioned that he discovered the carcasses of 30 cows butchered and thrown in an open parcel of land, likely belonging to the Nadiad Municipal Corporation.
Justice Shastri expressed, ‘Very disturbing and shocking …We feel that under the guise of regulating and implementing a policy, these innocent animals can’t be sacrificed. For the comfort of human lives, we can’t allow such a thing.’ He added, ‘If this is happening, even God will not forgive us. Innocent animals cannot be done away like this. Not a single innocent animal shall be sacrificed on account of public comfort. This may be a part of some design.’
