Kerala - Kochi   

Breather for cattle race organisers

KOCHI: District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish has given another chance to the organisers of the Kakkoor cattle race on Friday to adhere to the guidelines of the Supreme Court.

The race was scheduled for Thursday and had to be postponed after the organisers failed to produce required documents. Various certificates under the Performing Animals Registration Rules, Draught and Pack Animals Rules, and Transport Rules are mandatory for conducting a race like this.

“The organisers said they would produce these certificates before the race on Friday. Nothing has been produced till now. Even if they produce the required certificates, prosecution steps will be initiated immediately in the case of any instance of cruelty to animals,” said Mr. Hanish.

Secretary of the district wing of Society for Prevention of Cruelty against Animals Sethumadhavan and Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) secretary D. Rajasekhar had lodged complaints with the District Collector, urging him to stop the event.

Muvattupuzha Revenue Divisional Officer and representative of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) will be present to monitor the race.

“It always happens that the organisers get away without presenting the required documents every year as the mob frenzy builds up just before the race.

However, if it happens on Friday, it is going to be a serious violation of Supreme Court directions," said A.G. Babu, secretary of Idukki SPCA and representative of AWBI assigned for the race.

The Collector had issued an order in 2005, informing the race organisers that in the light of reported violations of the conditional permission sanctioned by the Kerala High Court to conduct the event in 2004, it has been made mandatory to seek permission one month ahead of the scheduled date for conducting the event. No such permission was sought this year.

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