New Delhi: Questioning the detention of a Gir-Somnath resident under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act, 1985 for alleged cruelty to cattle, the Gujarat high court on Friday asked if the district magistrate who ordered the arrest is as enterprising in extending care to women and children under its administration as it is towards putting an end to animal cruelty.

“The government’s measure to ensure no trouble in gauvansh (cow progeny) is appreciated. But the care taken for animals… is the same care taken for children? Women and children are under the collector’s jurisdiction,” Justice Paresh Upadhyay said. The judge has sought a reply to this question by August 13. 

The question came up while the court was hearing a petition filed by Aspak Panja against whom two FIRs were filed under the Animal Cruelty (Prevention) Act which alleged he had tied up his cattle, making it difficult for them to drink water. Acting on the two FIRs, the Gir-Somnath district magistrate had invoked PASA.

On June 29, the HC had suspended the PASA order against Panja and ordered that he be released immediately from prison. The court had granted an opportunity to the detaining authority to file a specific reply as to “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. If any such reply is filed by the detaining authority before the next date of hearing, that shall also be taken into consideration by this court while recording the final order. Until that exercise is done, the petitioner needs to be protected.”