PIL in HC against illegal transport of cattle

A PIL was today moved in the Delhi High Court alleging that cattle meant for slaughter were subjected to cruelty as they were transported in overloaded trucks and sought directions to authorities to address the issue.
The petition which was listed for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal has claimed that cattle are being ferried in violation of the Transport of Animal Rules and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and more than half of the animals die during the journey.
The plea has alleged that the Centre, the Delhi government and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) are turning a blind eye to the violations and has sought directions to them to issue guidelines to address the issue.

The matter was not heard today as one of the judges of the bench was not available.
The plea has been moved by two animal rights activists who have alleged that the trucks are filled three to six times beyond the legal limit and as a result 50 per cent and more of such cattle die during every trip.
The petitioners, who are also members of NGO People for Animals, have alleged that the police stations concerned where such crime is reported are not serious in registering FIR or in taking action against the culprits. They sought issuance of guidelines to be followed by police in such cases.

The petition, filed through advocate Anupam Tripathi, has also sought setting up of raiding teams to prevent and curb illegal transport of cattle.