THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE E.V. VENUGOPAL CRIMINAL PETITION No.2615 OF 2025

O R D E R:

This Criminal Petition is filed aggrieved by the order dated

07.01.2025 in Crl.M.P.No.12 of 2024 in Crime No.141 of 2024 (of P.S. Kaghaznagar Rural) on the file of the learned Junior Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate First Class, at Sirpur-T (for short, “the trial Court”) wherein and whereby, the learned Judge had granted interim custody of fourteen (14) Bulls to the petitioner by imposing certain conditions.

2. Heard Mr.G.L.Narsimha Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.E.Ganesh, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent No.1-State.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the seized animals are in safe custody with petitioner’s Gowshala; that their custody cannot be entrusted to unofficial respondent Nos.2 to 4, when the charges of cruelty and slaughtering are levelled against them; Relying on the decision passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Animal Welfare Board of India Vs. A.Nagaraja and Others¹ he seeks to pass appropriate orders.

4. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that the petitioner is not a party to the criminal proceedings; that upon a requ