Animal atrocities on rise in Gujarat, form welfare board: PIL

The Gujarat High Court today sought response from the state government on a PIL seeking formation of an animal welfare board on the ground that atrocities on animals, especially cows, have increased in recent years.
A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi admitted the PIL and allowed an assistant government pleader to seek instruction from the government on the matter and file a reply in two weeks.
The PIL, filed by Ahimsa Mahasang, an NGO, alleged that atrocities on animals, particularly cow slaughter, in the state have risen in recent years.
It said the government has not formed an animal welfare board despite a Supreme Court order of 2008 directing state governments for the same.

Such a board was constituted by the Gujarat Government way back in 1991 but it wound up after its three-year tenure got over and since then it has not been revived, the PIL said.
The Government came out with a resolution in 2008 to form the board but the matter remained on paper, it said.

The PIL also highlighted figures presented in the state legislature last year on atrocities on cows. According to these figures, between 2010 and 2015, 52,161 cows were rescued while being transported for slaughter in different parts of the state.
The NGO data showed 7,551 persons were arrested on charges of possessing beef or slaughtering cows, and 3,450 vehicles impounded for carrying cows or beef.

The PIL sought direction to the government to form a board headed by Agriculture Minister and having as its members two MLAs, a director of municipalities, a chief conservator of forest, two municipal commissioners, eight members of NGOs working for animal welfare, 11 members of panjrapoles (animal shelters) and a member from the Animal Welfare Board of India.
It sought action against officials responsible for delays in constitution of the board and a direction to the government to earmark necessary fund for the same.