Cruelty to animals: Court refuses to return cattle to man

New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) A Delhi court has refused toreturn a man his cattle, caught loaded in a truck, whileobserving that the animals were being transported for beingslaughtered in "a very cruel and inhumane manner". The court, while dismissing Rajasthan native JagdishBanjara’s plea for release of 25 buffaloes and calves of whicheight had died, directed that the animals be kept in care andprotection of Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre. "Taking into consideration entire facts and circumstanceswherein it has come up that the animals were transported forbeing slaughtered in a very cruel and inhumane manner, theprevious involvement of the same vehicle, it is possible thatthe animals might be subjected to more cruelty and sufferingin contravention of the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals Act, 1960…the revision is dismissed. "The animals, however, be kept in the care and protectionof Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre which is a recognisedanimal care centre cum pinjrapole working as an animal welfareand rescue facility for sick, injured and rescued animals solong as the matter is under trial," Additional Sessions JudgeSudesh Kumar said. Pinjrapoles are home to frail and abandonedcattle. According to the police, Banjara was caught with a truckloaded with 25 buffaloes and calves on June 22 on thecomplaint of an officer from Wildlife Crime and Cruelty Cell.He was booked for offences under the Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals Act 1960 and provisions of the IPC and the case isunder investigation, the police said. On July 1, the application of Banjara for the release ofthe animals was dismissed by a magisterial court and arevision plea was filed by him before sessions court. (more)PTI AGARC