AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Friday questioned the Gir-Somnath district collector whether his administration takes care of women and children in its jurisdiction the same way it claims to take care of cow progeny. Justice Paresh Upadhyay has sought a reply to this question by August 13.
He asked this during the hearing of a petition filed by one Aspak Panja, who was booked twice under the Animal Cruelty (Prevention) Act. On basis of two FIRs, the district collector invoked Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) by terming him ‘a cruel person’. Panja has challenged the PASA order.
The judge asked, “Do we take enough care of women and children of the area, the way claims are made for taking care of cow progeny (gauvansh). Of course, cows should not be made to suffer, but do we take enough care of kids and women?” On June 29, the HC suspended the PASA order against Panja and ordered for his immediate release from prison. The court observed, “Opportunity is granted to the detaining authority to file reply inter alia mentioning therein, whether the care which is claimed to have been taken on behalf of the state for gauvansh in the present case, similar care is being taken for citizens in the area under his jurisdiction.” The court had also noted in its order that the district collector’s reply would be taken into consideration while recording the final order. On Friday, the judge asked the prosecutor to make the officer reply to the specific query raised by the court.
In its earlier order, the HC recorded, “Said two FIRs and other material which is on record is considered by this court. On conjoint consideration of the material and the arguments of the contesting parties, prima facie, the impugned order is not sustainable.”
