Animal Welfare Board flays counsel for bull race verdict

"The Board had not issued any instructions to you to represent the AWBI in this case before the High Court. We are therefore surprised, sir, that you accepted notice of petition and application on behalf of the Board," AWBI secretary S Vinod Kumar said in a letter to Mr Nagaresh on October 14. The case related to the conduct of a bull race in Malappuram district for which the petitioners, Cattle Race Club of India, won a favourable verdict. Following the verdict, the race was conducted on October 11.

The ABWI came to know of the development only after Heritage Task Force secretary V K Venkitachalam send a missive to the Board on October 12, the day after the bull race was held. Venkitachalam had pointed out that the High Court verdict was unusual and that the ABWI counsel remained silent in the courtroom and had not produced any document to press the Board's case.

The ABWI secretary said that it was strange that Mr Nagaresh had taken up the case even though no counter draft affidavit had been forwarded to him. "On no previous occasion has the samed been done, and your office has not previously accepted notice of any petition issued to the AWBI by the High Court," Mr Vinod said in the letter.

The Board also pointed out that the High Court verdict was at variance with the Supreme Court verdict on May 7, 2014, that had banned bull races and bull fights. The assistant solicitor general has been asked to "immediately” apprise the court that his appearance was without the instructions from AWBI.