November 6: The City Civil and Sessions Court today adjourned the hearing over an application filed by owners of the Great Golden Circus requesting custody of six lions and lionesses.The six animals were confiscated by the Jogeshwari police on October 29 and handed over to the Borivli National Park authorities on the basis of a complaint filed by animal rights group Ahimsa, alleging that they were not kept in healthy conditions. The animals were handed over to the park for 15 days at the cost of the government. Advocate Ashok Gupte, arguing on behalf of circus manager Shahabuddin Rupani, said the animals were not being fed properly at the park. ``The government authorities are short of funds to look after the animals already at the park. The felines are not fed adequately. The circus authorities request that the animals be returned immediately to protect their lives.''Said special public prosecutor Dattatraya Arekar contended that the animals were being tended to well at the park. ``The staff is well trained to look after all kinds of animals. The circus management used the animals for commercial purposes and ill-treated them at the circus. They should not be handed back to the circus,'' argued Arekar. Additional sessions judge M L Tahliani ruled that he would not pass any interim order regarding the animals' release. He kept the matter for a final hearing for November 10, 1997 and adjourned the case.
