Madras High Court constitutes committee to feed stray animals during lockdown

The judges also insisted that the constitution of the committee must be publicised well in the media and a separate account should be maintained if donors come forward to assist the State.

The Madras High Court on Thursday decided to constitute a committee comprising a representative from the Animal Husbandry department, the Blue Cross and other animal welfare organisations to put in place a plan of action to feed stray animals which were starving due to non-availability of food waste ever since dining was prohibited in hotels and restaurants during the ongoing lockdown to fight COVID-19. Justice Anita Sumanth and Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy asked Government counsel R. Neelakandan to ensure that the committee meets on Friday through the virtual mode and comes up with the modalities for feeding the animals. The judges also insisted that the constitution of the committee must be publicised well in the media and a separate account should be maintained if donors come forward to assist the State. The directions were issued following a public interest litigation petition filed by V.E. Shiva, founder of Mothers of Animal Welfare Trust based in Chennai. Replying to the case, the Animal Husbandry department agreed that the outbreak of the pandemic and measures taken by the government to control it had caused great discomfort to stray dogs, cats, cattle that were surviving on solid waste and the largesse of the society.