Kerala High Court orders appointment of Vets in Lakshadweep

The Kerala High Court recently ordered the Director of Animal Husbandry to expeditiously appoint veterinary staff under the Central Government sponsored Livestock Health and Disease Control Scheme in Lakshadweep [CP Abdul Kabeer v Union Territory of Lakshadweep & Ors.]..A Division Bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly directed the competent authorities to ensure that sufficient funds are allocated so that the appointments of veterinary assistant surgeons, para veterinary staff and driver-cum-Aatenders can be done within a period of three weeks."Having regard to the plight of the birds and animals without getting any treatment as evidenced from Exhibits P3, P4 and P5 office orders and the representations dated 30.09.2021, 09.10.2021 and 06.10.2021 submitted by the petitioner, we direct the Director (Animal Husbandry) to initiate and finalise the appointment of the above said surgeons and staff on contract basis under the (Livestock Health And Disease Control) scheme by utilising the fund, within three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Sufficient allocation and permission be granted by the competent authority, if not done earlier," the Court said..However, taking note of the time likely to be consumed in finalising the appointment on contract basis, the Court directed the Lakshadweep administration to explore the possibility of deputing the two existing veterinary surgeons on Kavaratti islands to the other inhabited islands or even permit any NGO or qualified veterinary surgeons to provide treatment in such inhabited areas, under supervision..The Court was considering a petition which highlighted the emergent necessity for engaging veterinary doctors by the administration of Union Territory of Lakshadweep for medical and health care of animals and birds in the inhabited and isolated islands of Lakshadweep.The petitioner claimed that the veterinary doctors who had been engaged by the administration were let go without reason and since September 2021, there has been a complete lack of medical support for animals and birds on 9 out of 10 inhabited Lakshadweep islands. Advocate KM Firoz, appearing for the petitioner, contended that the lack of medical care to animals could result in contagious zoonotic diseases which amounts to violation of fundamental right to proper health care of inhabitants and citizens enshrined under Articles 21 and 14 of the Constitution of India. .The Lakshadweep administration and other respondents contended that there is a proposal to implement the centrally sponsored "Livestock Health And Disease Control" Scheme, i.e., Mobile Veterinary Unit Scheme sponsored by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, funded by the Government of India. This scheme would supposedly engage nine veterinary assistant surgeons, para veterinary staff and driver-cum-attenders on contract basis. It was submitted that the selection process for the same is underway. .However, the Court noted that even though the proposal is underway, the fact remains that as on date, there is no treatment to birds and animals on the islands. Therefore, it ordered that the necessary appointments be made and sufficient funds allocated within a period of three weeks month. .[Read Judgement]