Ensure Clean & Hygienic Milk Is Provided To Citizens & Cattle Don’t Feed On Garbage: HC Directs Delhi Govt
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to take appropriate steps to ensure that clean and hygienic milk is provided to the citizens of Delhi and that the cattle do not feed on garbage.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said, “The State Government (GNCTD) shall take appropriate steps to ensure that clean and hygienic milk is provided to the citizens of Delhi and that cattle do not feed on garbage, plastic, papers etc. as this can have a detrimental effect on the quality of milk which is produced by cows and the same can have deleterious effect on the people who consume it.”
The Bench was dealing with a plea seeking directions to the authorities to take all measures for ensuring clean and hygienic milk to be supplied to the people residing in Delhi.
Advocate Ritu Gauba appeared as a petitioner-in-person while Standing Counsels Sanjay Lao and Santosh Kr. Tripathi appeared for the respondent.
In this case, the petitioner sought the following directions from the Court to the Commissioner of Police:
1. Call for and scrutinize the money statement of the Constituency funds being properly used for public welfare and to improve public health;
2. Book, arrest, and proceed according to the law in case of dereliction of duty to the public for the safety and security of public health;
3. Make regulations for the safety and security, care and protection of the cattle under Section 28 (m), 73, 98, 99 of the DP Act, Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and under the provisions of the Penal Code;
4. Instantly take measures within a week for making provisions for clean drinking water for the cattle from the public funds in the hands of the public authorities; and
5. Pass any other and further order/s to any other person or authority in the facts and circumstances of the case for the interest of justice.
The High Court in view of the above asserted, “The first three prayers of the writ petition are in no way connected with the purpose for which the instant writ petition has been drafted and filed. When the Petitioner appearing in - person, who is also an Advocate, was confronted with this, she states that she is not pressing the prayer Nos.(i) to (iii) of the writ petition.”
The Court noted that the counsel for the Respondent submitted that it is not the duty of the Commissioner of Police to ensure the supply of clean and hygienic milk to the people of Delhi.
“We requested Mr. Santosh Kumar Tripathi, learned Standing Counsel for GNCTD, who was present in the Court to accept notice for the State. Mr. Santosh Kumar Tripathi, learned Standing Counsel for GNCTD, was gracious enough to accept notice on behalf of State even though it was not made as a party and now is being impleaded as a party in the writ petition. He submits that let the Petitioner file a representation before the State and that representation, if so filed, would be considered by the State in accordance with law. He also submits that adequate steps are being taken by the State to ensure supply of clean and hygienic milk to the people of Delhi. He submits that proper regulations are already in place to ensure the same”, observed the Court.
The Court, therefore, said that no further orders are required to be passed in the writ petition and that the Petitioner is at liberty to file a representation before the State Government (GNCTD).
Accordingly, the Court disposed of the plea.
Cause Title- Ritu Gauba Advocate v. Commissioner of Police
