nagpur coming down heavily on four cattle owners who were transporting buffaloes in cramped trucks in violation of norms the nagpur bench of bombay high court observed that the animals too have emotions feelings and senses similar to a human beingthe only difference is that the animals cannot speak therefore though their rights are recognized under the law they cannot assert the same the rights of the animals their welfare and protection have to be taken care of by the concerned in accordance with law justice govinda sanap saiddismissing the case of cattle owners seeking interim custody of their buffaloes from the gittikhadan police the judge pointed out that before the prevention of cruelty to animals act 1960 there was no enactment to deal with the aspects which are now taken care of the buffaloes were cramped in the vehicles which were not fitted with padding there was no provision of water and fodder if transportation of buffaloes had been within the permitted limits or capacities noncompliance of other provisions and rules could have been glossed over it is therefore seen that the buffaloes were transported in a very cruel condition even the owners who had played an important role in these cases have not been made the accused he saidon a tip off the gittikhadan police had intercepted four trucks in march last year where they seized 18 16 15 and 19 head of cattle in all 68 that were being illegally transported the cops booked the four cattle owners under relevant sections of prevention of cruelty to animals act and motor vehicles act the seized cattle were transferred to maa foundation gaushala at jaripatka here cattle owners charged cops with depriving them of their livelihoodthe cattle owners filed a case in the jmfc court for getting back the custody of the buffaloes but it was rejected on april 11 2022 even their revision case was dismissed by a sessions court herecontending that they have the licence for purchase and sale of the animals from the agriculture produce market committee apmc the petitioners moved hc challenging the sessions judge order pointing out that they were transporting the animals to another apmc market the owners said they were entitled to get back their custodyadding that the animals also contained milching buffaloes the cattle owners charged the police with denying them of their livelihoodeven if custody of the cattle is handed over to the petitioners they would not be entitled to sell them though they are dealing in the business of sale and purchase disposal of the cattle seized in these cases would be subject to outcome of the criminal case the court saidthe judge observed that the petitioners have not come before the court with a specific contention about the availability of provision for maintenance and shelter as against this gaushala is wellequipped to take care of maintenance protection and welfare of the animals during pendency of the proceedings justice govinda sanap said