Submit details of money spent on cow shelters: HC
The High Court of Himachal today directed the state government to furnish the details of the amount spent on cow sanctuaries or gausadans being run by it.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya stated in its order that the details would contain the exact position as to how the amount had been utilised and spent, given the fact that the state was spending 15 per cent of the amount that was being collected by way of donation in temples that it had taken over under the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institution and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984. The government was also imposing a two and half per cent cess on every bottle of liquor being sold in the state.
The court directed the state to file the details of the activities being carried out by the ‘Gauseva Aayog’ and the purpose of its creation and funding.
The court also appointed the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kangra, to visit the Radhe Shyam Cow Sanctuary at Luthan villge in Jawalamukhi in Kangra district and submit a report on its condition after inspecting it.
The court directed the state to file an affidavit as to why there was no management committee for the time being for the cow sanctuary and as to what steps were being taken in this regard. The state would also file an affidavit regarding the creation of some cow sanctuaries.
The court passed the order on a PIL highlighting the plight of cows in the Jawalamukhi sanctuary and listed the matter for further hearing on December 2.
