The High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of a news report alleging the deaths of numerous cows due to negligence, hunger, and thirst in the Bilaspur district. A division bench, finding prima facie “serious administrative lapses,” has directed the Principal Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of Chhattisgarh, to file a personal affidavit in response to the allegations.
The public interest litigation, registered as WPPIL No. 95 of 2025, was initiated based on an office reference to a news item published on October 23, 2025, in the Hindi daily ‘Navbharat’.
Background of the Case
The High Court registered the suo-motu petition based on the news item titled “बेलतरा व सुकलकारी बने कब्रगाह भूख-प्यास से तडपकर मर रही गाये” (Beltara and Sukalkari become graveyards, cows dying of hunger and thirst) with a sub-heading “विडंबनाः गायों की मौत पर सवाल, वेटनरी विभाग की लापरवाही का आरोप” (Irony: Questions on cow deaths, Veterinary department accused of negligence).
According to the High Court’s order sheet, the news report states that “cattle are dying continuously in the Beltara and Sukulkari areas of the Masturi Block of District Bilaspur.” The judgment notes that the report alleges the cows, which were temporarily housed, are “dying due to lack of proper management, food, water, and medical care.”
The judgment further details the content of the news report, which cited local villagers claiming “more than a dozen cows have died in Beltara and 04 in Sukulkari.” The report accused the Veterinary Department officials of being “unaware of this” and highlighted allegations of “inaction and insensitivity.”
As per the court order, the news report also contained specific allegations from locals that cows in Beltara were “kept in a swampy and muddy room within Betlara’s Mini Stadium.” Villagers alleged the deaths were caused by mismanagement, as “Most of the animals that died were neither old nor previously ill.”
The judgment also noted that the news report included the version of the Joint Director, Veterinary Services, Bilaspur, “who states that he has received complaints about cow deaths in Sukulkari, but he has no information about the deaths in Beltara and that the Department is not responsible for the deaths of cattle.”
Court Proceedings and Analysis
Notably, the division bench took up the matter during the Diwali holidays, underscoring the perceived urgency of the issue. During the hearing on October 23, 2025, the bench, comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, heard submissions from Mr. Ajit Singh, the learned Government Advocate appearing for the State/respondents. Mr. Singh submitted that he “may be granted some time to seek instructions.”
After reviewing the contents of the news report, the High Court made a prima facie observation. The bench stated: “Prima facie, the aforesaid news report reveals serious administrative lapses on the part of the Veterinary Department and the local authorities concerned, which warrants immediate attention of the State Administration.”
Court’s Decision
In view of its findings, the High Court issued a directive to the state government.
The Court ordered: “In view of the above, let the Principal Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of Chhattisgarh, file his personal affidavit with respect to the above news report before the next date of hearing.”
The matter has been listed again for hearing on October 27, 2025.
