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HC asks civic bodies to file ATR regarding stray cattle menace
New Delhi, Mar 13: The Delhi High Court has directed the civic and local authorities in the capital to file an Action-Taken Report (ATR) on the steps taken to rid the city of the menace of stray cattle.
New Delhi, Mar 13: The Delhi High Court has directed the civic and local authorities in the capital to file an Action-Taken Report (ATR) on the steps taken to rid the city of the menace of stray cattle.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice B D Ahmed ordered the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the New Delhi Metropolitan Council (NDMC), the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) and the Delhi government to file reports by next week, while calling for the personal presence of the MCD commissioner, which was entrusted to the bulk of the work if the corporation was unable to file its report.
On April 25, 2003, the HC had directed the Delhi government and the civic agencies to rid the city of stray cattle within a year failing which coercive action could be initiated against them. Saying that they were being given one last chance, the division bench had ordered the state government, the MCD commissioner, the NDMC chairman and the DCB chief executive to convene a meeting within 15 days and prepare a time-bound action plan.
The court was to be informed of the plan by May 23 last otherwise the authorities could be liable for contempt of court, the judges had said.
However, no reply had been filed in the court by the authorities till date.
The court had said that the public should be a reason one which ensured human life was not put in danger because cattle roamed around in streets and roads. As the problem of stray cattle was created by humans, the cattle should also be given humane treatment, it added. The judges had directed all departments concerned to coordinate their efforts and file a comprehensive response to weed out the menace.
The court was dealing with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by NGO 'common cause' through its counsel Meera Bhatia, seeking to rid the public roads of stray cattle.
Bureau Report
On April 25, 2003, the HC had directed the Delhi government and the civic agencies to rid the city of stray cattle within a year failing which coercive action could be initiated against them. Saying that they were being given one last chance, the division bench had ordered the state government, the MCD commissioner, the NDMC chairman and the DCB chief executive to convene a meeting within 15 days and prepare a time-bound action plan.
The court was to be informed of the plan by May 23 last otherwise the authorities could be liable for contempt of court, the judges had said.
However, no reply had been filed in the court by the authorities till date.
The court had said that the public should be a reason one which ensured human life was not put in danger because cattle roamed around in streets and roads. As the problem of stray cattle was created by humans, the cattle should also be given humane treatment, it added. The judges had directed all departments concerned to coordinate their efforts and file a comprehensive response to weed out the menace.
The court was dealing with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by NGO 'common cause' through its counsel Meera Bhatia, seeking to rid the public roads of stray cattle.
Bureau Report