Puducherry cattle owners face the music

They have been booked under IPC for letting the animals on road

March 22, 2014 01:11 pm | Updated May 19, 2016 10:39 am IST - PUDUCHERRY:

Stray cattle ending up on the Old Jail premises, in Puducherry. Photo: S.S. Kumar

Stray cattle ending up on the Old Jail premises, in Puducherry. Photo: S.S. Kumar

A case has been booked against Rajamanickam, a cattle owner, for letting his cattle stray on the road in Lawspet. The case, instead of being booked under the Municipality Act, was booked under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for violation of orders issued by a government official.

A month ago the Puducherry Collector has issued an order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code banning straying of cattle on the road.

In the past couple of months, there have been a number of orders issued under Section 144 to prevent the entry of anti-social elements into certain areas.

Now, this order covers the owner of cattle, pets and domestic animals as well. According to the order, owners of these animals are prohibited from allowing their animals to stray on roads and if they fail to comply with the regulations, penal action will be taken against them.

The presence of “stray cattle, pets and domestic animals” on the roads of Puducherry causes disturbance and injuries to commuters and common public. It also obstructs the traffic, causing accidents, says the order.

The order further directs the sub-divisional magistrates, North and South, the Director of Local Administration, commissioners of the Puducherry, Oulgaret, Ariyankuppam, Villianur, Bahour and Mannadipet municipalities and communes to strictly enforce the order issued on February 14.

The Puducherry Municipality on Thursday took a decision to enforce this order and detained six cattle that strayed on Nehru Street. Cows and buffaloes were impounded on the Old Jail premises all day.

The owners of the cattle arrived at the jail and were told that a case would be booked against them for violating orders.

According to an official of the Municipality, though the order was issued, not much was done in terms of its enforcement. There are a number of accidents caused by these animals that stray on the road.

“I have not heard of this rule before, but it is a good thing if enforced. Last month, I met with an accident when I hit a stray buffalo and I had do shell out quite a sum towards my medical expenses ,” said Sudhakar, a resident of Rainbow Nagar.

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