HC asks urban development ministry to reply on stray animals

HC asks urban development ministry to reply on stray animals
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JULY 17: The Delhi High Court today asked the Central Government and municipal authorities to explain their stand on hundreds of stray cattle and dogs loitering on city streets.

A division bench comprising of Justices Anil Dev Singh and MK Sharma asked the secretaries of the Ministry of Urban Development, Delhi Government and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to file their replies within a month.

``This is a capital city, showcase to the whole world. But every market is full of cows on the street,'' said the judges. They brushed aside government counsel Upamanayu Hazarika's contention that clearing city street is solely the responsibility of municipal authorities. The Union government is responsible for law and order. The order includes maintaining civic discipline, the judges said.

Their observation came following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Common Cause, an NGO, which said the condition of roads in Delhi is pathetic.

``'Cows, bulls and stray dogs surround the garbage dumps and have a day-long party, making it nauseating for residents living nearby,'' said Common Cause counsel Meera Bhatia. ``Cattle squat on the roads and hamper flow of traffic, leading to accidents and loss of lives.''