Public auction of 12 Kangeyam cows stayed

Justice K Ravichandrabaabu granted the interim stay on admitting a plea moved by Palayakottai Pattagar Cattle Farm and Research Centre (PPCFRC), Tirupur, raising objection against such public sale of the popular breed.

PPCFRC had contended that while KDLF’s earlier plan in April to sell the old unfit Kangeyam cattle illegally to a private goshala in Coimbatore without following due process was thwarted by filing complaints to assistant superintendent of police, Hosur, the authorities had come up with the announcement of public auction in November.

The plea noted that following the KDLF’s move to sell the unfit cattle, a representation was made to the authorities to offer the said unfit cattle to them as the original nucleus herd of Kangeyam were supplied by their ancestors.

But notwithstanding their plea, the district farm issued a notice on November 24 calling for public auction of the cows along with horses and sheep in the farm’s custody.

Subsequently, another representation was made on November 27, objecting the sale. Thereafter, the authorities were urged to allow them to take the cattle since if the cows were given to a third party and permitted to mix with nondescript breeds widely available in the market, it would amount to destroying the very limited genetically pure gene pool of Kangeyam, the plea said.

Also, noting that since the district farm authorities failed to consider their representation, they had no choice but to approach the High Court, the plea also contended that the sale of such unfit cattle in public market is against the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017.