1. The order dated 2.11.2001 passed by the V Metropolitan Magistrate, Chennai, returning the buffaloes in favour of the second respondent, who claimed to be the owner of the same, is challenged in this revision by Prema Veeraraghavan, Expert Consultant, Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), the first informant, the petitioner herein.

2. The facts leading to the filing of the present revision are as follows:-

(a) The petitioner is an Expert Consultant, CPCSEA, Government of India, on the subject of regulating experimentation on animals. On 24.10.2001, on getting information that a lorry packed with 18 buffaloes was on transit from Red Hills area, the petitioner spotted the said lorry near Koyambedu and she got shocked to notice that all the 18 buffaloes were stacked over the other and tied with a rope in a row through their nostrils and packed in an inhuman manner in the lorry.

(b) Immediately, the petitioner lodged a complaint with the first respondent-police, which was registered for the offences under Sections 428 and 429 I.P.C. and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The said lorry and the 18