HC raps Chandigarh administration over death of 50 cattle at Raipur Kalan Gaushala
Bench quotes a news report, says postmortem of nine cow carcasses revealed polythene bags and plastic waste in stomach of at least seven
PTC Web Desk: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has strongly criticised the Chandigarh Administration and other authorities concerned for their alleged negligence in connection with the death of nearly 50 cattle at the Raipur Kalan Gaushala. The court observed that regulatory bodies had “turned a blind eye”, allowing cruelty to animals and blatant violations of law to continue unchecked.
Justice Sanjay Vashisth, while taking serious note of the incident, directed that the matter be registered as a public interest litigation (PIL). The court ordered issuance of notices to the Union of India through the Secretaries of the Ministries of Health and Environment, to the Union Territory of Chandigarh through the Deputy Commissioner, and to the Municipal Corporation through its Commissioner.
Making sharp observations, the Punjab and Haryana High Court remarked that Chandigarh is considered a city of intellectuals from two states, Punjab and Haryana, yet the law enforcement and regulatory agencies had failed miserably in discharging their statutory duties. The Bench noted that such negligence had resulted in avoidable suffering and deaths of animals.
Referring to media reports, the court highlighted disturbing findings from post-mortem examinations, which revealed that plastic bags were found in the stomachs of several cows. These plastic materials were identified as a major cause of the animals’ deaths, pointing to severe lapses in waste management and enforcement of existing environmental regulations.
The High Court also noted that despite a complete ban on polythene bags in Chandigarh, their widespread and open use continues unabated. The court held the authorities responsible for gross negligence in failing to implement the ban effectively, thereby endangering animal lives and public health.
In response to the incident, the Municipal Corporation has reportedly suspended some officials and terminated the services of certain contractual employees. Additionally, the Additional Deputy Commissioner has ordered a magisterial inquiry to ascertain responsibility and fix accountability in the matter.