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The camels were seized by Ramnagar Police when they were allegedly being trafficked to West Bengal and were kept in Ramnagar Police Station till August 20.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Allahabad High Court seeking immediate intervention in the matter of protection of lives of camels that are stranded in Varanasi since June 27, 2022. Till the filing of the PIL, one out of the 16 camels had died, however, by August 30, 2 camels were reported dead.
A charitable organisation, Gau Gyan Foundation through Advocates Saurabh Tiwari & Amitabh Trivedi has filed a PIL plea before the high court primarily seeking direction to the District Magistrate, Varanasi to make proper arrangements for transportation of the camels from Ramnagar, Varanasi to People for Animals Care Shelter and Veterinary Hospital, Sirohi, Rajasthan.
Other than that, the petitioner has sought issuance of guidelines for proper implementation of the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and Rule made thereunder.
The plea filed by the foundation through its authorised representative Ankur Sharma stated that the District Magistrate, Varanasi & local Police is acting arbitrarily and against the orders of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate & Sessions Judge.
The plea claimed that despite the directions of the court of ACJM to the District Magistrate to make proper arrangements for transportation of the camels, he refused to comply with the order stating that there is no Government Scheme for shifting of the Animals & State Of UP has not provided a budget for such type of thing.
Further, the petitioner alleged that because of officers' illegal actions and non-adherence to the rule of law, all the remaining camels who are stranded for about two months will be dead soon too.
On July 7, 2022, the ACJM, Varanasi ordered shifting of 16 camels, which were allegedly being trafficked to West Bengal for slaughtering, to People for Animals (PFA), Animal Care Shelter & Veterinary Hospital, in Sirohi, Rajasthan after an application was filed by the Gau Gyan Foundation.
Through the same order, the court directed the investigation officer of the case to help in shifting the camels and the District Magistrate was directed to make proper arrangements for their transportation.
However, after District Magistrate's alleged refusal to make arrangements and the death of one camel, on August 20, the Station House Officer of Ram Nagar, Police Station allegedly distributed the remaining 15 camels to unknown persons.
A First Information Report was lodged by one Mrs. R Lata Devi authorised representative of Gau Gyan Foundation on June 27th with Ram Nagar Police under section 11 of “The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals Act, 1960 and section 279 of the Indian Penal Code when she got specific information about illegal trafficking & transportation of camels for slaughtering from Rajasthan to Calcutta via Varanasi-Chandauli highway (NH-2).
Thereafter, police authorities stopped the vehicle which was carrying the animals and found 16 camels in very inhuman and brutal condition. The camels were then seized by Ramnagar Police and were kept in the Ramnagar Police Station till August 20 before their distribution to local people.
Case Title: Gau Gyan Foundation v. State of U.P. and Ors.
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