In a plea seeking directions to the Delhi State Advisory Board for Animal Welfare against running of illegal cattle markets in Delhi for Bakri Eid, the Supreme Court was today reminded of its motto yato dharmastato jayah a Sanskrit phrase meaning where there is dharma there will be victory.
However, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea as withdrawn. The petitioner had approached the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order which had dismissed his plea stating that except bald averments, no specific case had been made out by him.
Notably, the present bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia did not consider what the petitioner said were pictures submitted of the said illegal cattle markets, stating that they only showed "trading of bakras" and not of "sacrifices".
Ironically, the petitioner had in fact approached the Court for relief against illegal trading itself however, this fact was neither raised nor dealt with by the bench.
Before approaching the Supreme Court, the petitioner had moved the Delhi High Court stating that during Bakra-Eid/Eid-Ul-Addha goats/sheep/ bullocks would be mercilessly butchered throughout the country in the name of sacrifice. It was further stated that cattle markets were being illegally held at various places viz. Jaffrabad, Okhla, Jamia, Jama Masjid, Seelampur, Inderlok, Jamia against the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017.
However, without considering the above, the Supreme Court directed the petitioner, one Ajay Gautam, to approach the relevant authorities under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The petitioner informed the bench that he had already approached the relevant authorities but to no avail.
He further pointed out that he was in fact seeking remedies against the non-implementation of the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 which deal with the conduct of illegal markets from where trading of animals takes place.
The Court merely stated that it cannot interfere in these issues and the High Courts jurisdiction is final.
Pursuant to this, he expressed his inclination to file a review petition before the Delhi High Court instead and withdrew his petition.
