Inquiry ordered into Kerala cattle torture

The court also ordered notice to secretary, Cochin Corporation and secretary, Animal Welfare Board.

The photographs showed dying cattle, brought in trucks from outside the state, being unloaded in a brutal manner.

8220;The photos will shock the conscience of any human being. This is barbarism at its worst on mute, helpless creatures,8221; the judge observed.

The court also ordered notice on two public interestpetitions, one of which is a letter addressed to the High Court seeking action on the basis of the photographs. The letter was written by S Parameshwaran, former president of the Kerala High Court Advocates8217; Association, and the petition was filed by master N P Nakul, a 12-year old boy.

Cattle are brought into Kerala from neighbouring states, mainly from Tamil Nadu, and it is a thriving business. Earlier, the animals were being made to walk along the National Highway all the way to the Kerala markets. It was at the intervention of court at the instance of animal lovers that the practice of bringing them by truck began.