Ahmedabad, Jul 12: The Gujarat high court has once again criticized the state government and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for not being successful in controlling the problem of stray cattle on public streets. The court has directed the state government to establish a policy or issue administrative instructions outlining measures to tackle the issue of stray cattle in the state.

 

 

 

 

The bench, comprising Justice A S Supehia and Justice M R Mengey, expressed its dismay at the threat posed by stray cattle, resulting in fatalities and said, “When will the authorities realize that the security and safety of a citizen are supreme? You have to undertake an exercise to see that citizens feel safe on the roads.” Citing the examples of legislation implemented by other states the bench emphasized on the urgent need for a concrete policy to address the issue. The bench was hearing a plea alleging contempt of court regarding the directions issued by the HC in 2017-18.

 

 

 

 

 

The HC expressed displeasure with the AMC standing committee’s decision to reject a policy to address the stray cattle issue and even threatened to summon all committee members and officials to court for an explanation. It also noted that the AMC has only acted on court orders and has not taken additional administrative measures or issued circulars to find a permanent solution. While acknowledging that the court cannot compel the state to enact legislation, Justice Supehia stressed that the court has the power to ensure the implementation of its directions.

 

 

According to reports, the court also said that the officers injured while dealing with stray cattle should be adequately compensated. The court observed that the history of the case demonstrates that the state government and AMC are not genuinely committed to addressing the issue promptly to prevent loss of life or serious injuries to citizens. The court scheduled the next hearing for July 19 and asked the government to provide updates on the formulation of the policy.

 

 

--