Kerala HC seeks Centre, state stand cruelty against cows in cattle markets

Kochi, April 24: The Kerala High Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and the state government on a public interest litigation alleging cruelty to animals at cattle markets across the state.

A bench of Justices Ziyad Rahman A.A. and K.V. Jayakumar issued notice to the Union government, the Kerala government, the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Perumbavoor Municipality on the plea filed by animal rights activist Angels Nair.

The petition alleges that domesticated bovines are kept tightly tethered without access to water and exposed to heat throughout the day in municipal and local body cattle markets, including the Perumbavoor market.

“The cattle will be slaughtered in a couple of days, which is not an excuse for inflicting unfathomable agony,” the plea said.

It further contends that the markets are functioning without proper shelter or adequate water facilities and in violation of the advisory on ‘Livestock in the Event of Heat Wave Situation’ issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, as well as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017.

The petitioner has sought directions to halt the alleged illegal functioning of cattle markets in the state.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on May 25.