Delhi HC asks govt to take decision on Gaushala at Ghogha Dairy Farm | Latest Delhi News

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government and its chief secretary to take a decision to set up a Gaushala (cow shelter) at Goga Dairy Farm in north-west Delhi to relocate animals from Bhalswa and Ghazipur dairy colonies.

A bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora, in her order dated October 22, which was issued later, asked the Aam Aadmi Party government to take a call after Delhi Municipal Corporation lawyer Manu Chaturvedi advised that land was available for Ghogha Dairy Farm and his clients would immediately consider setting up a gaushala if will receive an offer from the government.

Adv Chaturvedi also said that the civic agency was creating adequate infrastructure for dairy business in Goga Dairy Colony.

The court issued the order in response to a plea filed by Sunayana Sibal, Asher Jessudoss and Akshita Kukreja, alleging that these milk colonies were set up in violation of central and state government laws.

In their application, the petitioners alleged abuses including animal cruelty, severe overcrowding, forcing animals to lie on their excrement, leaving unattended and festering injuries and illnesses, starving male calves, animal mutilation and more.

On July 19, the court directed the Delhi government and statutory authorities, including the MCD, to extend the sanction required to shift all dairies from Bhalsawa to Ghoga Dairy Colony within four weeks. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the authorities’ failure to prevent dairy cattle from feeding on waste from sanitary landfills.

A bench of then acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora ordered the shift of the colony, noting that while the estimated required land for relocation of Bhalswa Dairy Colony was 30 acres, Ghoga Dairy Colony had 83 acres of unused land.

A few days after this order, the MCD issued notices giving a three-day ultimatum to the defaulters to vacate the occupied premises, failing which a demolition drive would be carried out after the stipulated period. In August, the MCD assured the Delhi High Court that it would not hold the rally.

On August 23, dairy farm owners in Bhalswa and Ghazipur colonies said they were ready to close their dairy farms and relocate livestock within eight weeks. Following this, the high court gave the authorities the right to stop grazing the cattle and shift them to Goga Dairy Farm or any other Gau Shala farm if they are found in the dairy farms after the stipulated time.

On October 8, the court directed the MCD and the animal husbandry department of the Delhi government to take steps to keep the seized animals in safe and hygienic conditions in accordance with applicable rules, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Registration of Livestock Premises) rules. 1978 and Livestock Premises Registration Rules.