SRINAGAR: Justice N Kotishwar Singh, the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, has announced his personal visit to a Gaushala (cattle pond) in the village of Nagrota to inspect the reported deplorable conditions there. This decision came after receiving alarming reports about the state of the facility, legal news portal LiveLaw reported.
On June 2, 2023, the Chief Justice will visit the Gaushala along with a Division bench comprising Justice Puneet Gupta. The court has instructed the Commissioner of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), the Director of Animal Husbandry Jammu, and the Municipal Veterinary Officer of the JMC to be present during the visit.
Besides, the advocates representing both sides, the petitioner Chairperson SAVE, and Devinder Kour Madaan alias Rimpy Madaan have also been asked to attend.
The impetus for this visit stems from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting the dilapidated condition of the cattle pond at Village Seri Khurd, Nagrota, in the periphery of Jammu city. The court intends to gather firsthand information regarding the allegations presented in the petition.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel revealed that they had conducted a surprise visit to the cattle pond on April 8, 2023. They testified that during their inspection, they witnessed distressing conditions, including animals being confined to sheds even during daylight hours and deprived of the freedom to graze.
Advocate SS Ahmed informed the court that the entire surprise visit had been recorded on video. Requesting the Division Bench to watch the footage in open court, he aimed to convey the dire condition of the cattle in the Gaushala.
Responding to the request, the Bench viewed the video in open court, exposing the alarming state of affairs at the Gaushala. It granted the respondents one week to respond to the report submitted by the petitioner, allowing them time to address the concerns raised.
