HC directs handing over rescued cattle to NGO

The Madras High Court bench here today directed authorities to give the custody of stranded cattle that were illegally transported to Kerala to an NGO.
Disposing of a PIL by Joshine Antony, a Bangalore-based animal-welfare activist, seeking to save the cattle, Justices V Ramasubramanian and V M Velumani directed giving interim custody of the cattle to the petitioner after authorities said they were unable to maintain them in view of election work.
Earlier, on the court's interim direction, Theni District authorities had taken care of the cattle after rescuing them, found stranded in the border town of Cumbum.
The Judges directed the Theni Police to complete their investigation in 30 days and file a final report before the the Magistrate Court, until then the cattle will be maintained by the petitioner.

The Judges also directed the police to question the cattle owners and to frame charges against them, if cognizable offences were made out. If the charge sheet was not filed in the trial court, the owners of the cattle can take them back immediately.