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Court seeks personal affidavit from Principal Secretary, Veterinary Department; says negligence cannot be tolerated in the name of cow protection.
Bilaspur:
The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of a report published in highlighting the death of several cows due to starvation and thirst in the Beltara and Sukulkari areas of Bilaspur district.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru directed the Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department to submit a personal affidavit before the next hearing.
According to the report titled “Questions Raised Over Cow Deaths: Beltara and Sukulkari Turn into Graveyards”, dozens of cows housed temporarily in unhygienic, swampy enclosures died for lack of food, water, and medical care. Locals alleged that the Veterinary Department officers visited the site but conducted only superficial inquiries.
The court observed:
“Such incidents are not merely departmental failures but an affront to human compassion. When schemes are being promoted for cow protection, such negligence raises serious questions.”
The Joint Director of Veterinary Services, Bilaspur, in his statement, admitted receiving complaints from Sukulkari but denied responsibility for deaths in Beltara.
Finding this reply unsatisfactory, the Court termed the matter “a case of gross negligence” and directed the state to ensure immediate corrective action.
The case will be heard again on October 27, 2025.