Tripura High Court Disposes PIL on Illegal Cattle Transportation Case

AGARTALA: The Tripura High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by animal rights activist and legal practitioner Paramita Sen over the illegal and inhumane transportation of cattle.

The court ordered on December 19 that Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Biswajit Palit would hear the case and emphasize strict adherence to the laws related to animal welfare.

The PIL was filed on an incident that occurred on 25 July 2024 at Kamrangabari, Kailashahar, Unakoti District, when a vehicle carrying cattle cows, calves, and bulls—was stopped for suspicion of unlawful activities.

There was an alleged release of the cattle and the vehicle seized without undergoing proper legal procedures under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, even when there was a written complaint filed by an activist and member of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in this case.

The petitioner, representing the NGO Society for Welfare of Animal and Nature (SWAN), also claimed that attempts were made to pressure the complainant into withdrawing the case. Frustrated with these developments, Sen approached the High Court, seeking intervention to uphold animal welfare laws.

On September 18, during the hearing, the government sought time to probe compliance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, of 1960. Further investigations brought out lapses in handling the case. The court was informed that disciplinary action had been initiated against the concerned officer, Inspector Sukanta Sen Choudhury, who was given a final warning by the Superintendent of Police, Unakoti District, on charges of negligence.

The government assured the court that it would comply with the Act in the future and enforce prescribed procedures seriously.

After considering the submission of the petitioner and the government's response, the court held that sufficient action had been taken against the erring officer. The petitioner, therefore, did not further pursue the charges but requested the court to issue directives to the authorities in the future to ensure stricter compliance with animal welfare laws.

The court stressed that it would ensure compliance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and all the laws related to the same act and its allied rules for similar lapses. In the end, it concluded the PIL with directions for its strict implementation.

This case emphasizes legal protection for animal welfare and due enforcement by the authorities concerned to prevent such inhuman practices.

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