The East Delhi municipal body has told the Delhi High Court that the problem of illegal cattle transportation could be restricted with the help of Delhi Police which has the power to act against violators.
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) also apprised the court that police personnel have been posted at various border points of entry into Delhi via Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to check the illegal cattle transportation.
The municipal body has filed a counter affidavit before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar on a plea which has alleged that cattle was being transported under cruel conditions for slaughtering.
The matter would be taken up for hearing on December 15.
The civic body, in the affidavit filed by EDMC director Hari Lal, claimed it has not violated any provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act and the plea has emphasised on illegal transportation of cattle from one state to another, which does not come under its command.
"EDMC has not violated the provisions of the PCA Act. It is maintaining Ghazipur slaughterhouse by following the Slaughterhouse Rules, 2001, under PCA Act. Hence, the plea is liable to be dismissed," it said.
The high court had on May 9 asked the civic body to respond to the petition filed by Saurabh Gupta and Gaurav Gupta, who claim to be animal rights activists, that cattle were being ferried in violation of the Transport of Animal Rules and the PCA Act and the authorities were turning a blind eye to it.
The EDMC in its reply claimed that the petitioners have not approached the court with clean hands.
"They say there are illegal slaughterhouses all over Delhi and on the other hand, they have opted not to make other MCDs party. So the ill-motive is to target the EDMC," the affidavit said.
The municipal body has also told the court that there is no provision under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act to take action against the cruelty towards animals.
"The Delhi society for PCA is working under the control of Animal Husbandary Department of the Delhi government and is the responsible body to take action against violators.
"Delhi Police also has provision to take action against cruelty to animals being done by driver/owner/transporter under the Indian Penal Code. There is no provision to take action against the cruelty towards animals under the DMC Act," it said.
The high court had earlier issued notice to the Centre and the AAP government on the plea which pointed out the transportation of cattle for slaughter on overloaded trucks.
The petition, filed through advocate Anupam Tripathi, has sought directions to the Centre, the Delhi government, Animal Welfare Board of India and the corporation to frame guidelines to address the issue.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
