Gujarat High Court has taken a strong stance on the issue of stray animals in Gujarat and has ordered the state government to take immediate action. On Wednesday, the Gujarat High Court mandated the state government to take prompt action and said, “Take immediate action by the evening, or the court will issue a strict order. No citizen should lose their life because of a stray animal.”
Many people of Gujarat, in both urban and rural areas, became victims at the hands of angered stray animals. Many incidents of people getting injured due to stray cattle exist, and the state also observed a few cases of casualties. On August 13, a racing cow injured the former Gujarat deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel during Tiranga Yatra.
Thus, the state High Court had to take a firm step due to increasing cases of injuries caused by stray cattle. However, the court has ordered the state government to take action by evening. It has also warned the government that a lack of action might lead to strict order by the bench.
However, the order does not imply that the state government did not take any steps in the past. On August 18, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel directed Secretary of Urban Development, IAS Mukesh Kumar, to address the issue of cattle menace in Gujarat. CM Patel instructed the officials to remove the stray animals from the streets and send them to charitable trusts.
Read More: CM Patel Hauls Stray Cattle Menace In State; Lists Two Pronged Approach