Cuttack: Orissa high court has made payment towards the upkeep of rescued cattle a precondition for the interim release of a vehicle allegedly used for their illegal transportation.While hearing a petition filed by the owner of the vehicle, Justice V Narasingh set aside the order of judicial magistrate first class, Bisra (Sundargarh), refusing to release the vehicle seized by Bisra police in April in connection with a case under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.The govt informed the court that seven bullocks had been rescued from the vehicle. As there was no gaushala or authorised animal care centre in the locality, the animals were handed over to a social worker, Narayan Mahato, on interim custody. According to the prosecution, nearly Rs 2.97 lakh had already been spent on feeding and maintaining the cattle.Taking the expenditure at Rs 3 lakh for ease of calculation, the court held that the petitioner should bear half the maintenance cost. Justice Narasingh directed the vehicle’s owner to deposit Rs 1 lakh immediately and pay another Rs 50,000 in five equal monthly instalments of Rs 10,000 each. The first instalment will become due three months after the vehicle is released, with the trial court fixing the timeline.“The petitioner being liable for 50% thereof, i.e. a sum of Rs 1,50,000,” the court observed on July 15, while quantifying the contribution towards the animals’ upkeep.The HC directed that the vehicle be released only after the petitioner furnishes unencumbered property security worth Rs 5 lakh and complies with the payment conditions.The court also ruled that any default in payment of instalments would automatically result in the interim release order being recalled, enabling the trial court to proceed in accordance with law.The court further ordered that the amount deposited by the petitioner be handed over to Mahato for the cattle’s maintenance.
