Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra written a strong letter to DCF-Thane

On 20 June 2013, Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai) written Complaint Letter (No. PAWS-Mumbai/PCA-BE/45-2013) Dated 18 Jun 2013, addressing to the Senior Police Inspector – Mulund Police Station & the Range Forest Officer – Mumbai, the copy of it have forwarded to the Justice Shri. C.S. Dharmadhikari - Chairman of Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra. Following to the letter, Committee has send an strong letter (No.HCC/AWL/92/13) to The Deputy Conservator of Forests (Thane) in regards to the case of female elephant named Bijli.

Brief Letter of Committee ……………..

Justice Shri. C.S. Dharmadhikari
Chairman of Committee to Monitor
Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra
Letter to Deputy Conservator of Forests
Thane following to PAWS-Mumbai Letter

"The case of the female elephant “Bijli” is all over the media and in public domain and hence we do not wish to elaborate on the same.

Though the Chief Conservator of Forests, Thane had issued a Circular No. D-8(4)/ WLP/ OW/ 128/ 07-08, dated 24-07-2007, elephants on the street of Mumbai are a common sight, driven by their mahouts for begging purpose. You will kindly appreciate that merely issuing an order by way of a Circular is of no use unless strict implementing agency is put in place, which deals with such cases with firm hand and in exemplary manner so that others are deterred from violating the law.

It appears from the press reports that though Bijli is down with her ailments, its owner is still pursuing his ‘business’ with another younger elephant. At least this should be stopped immediately.

Moreover, once Bijli recovers from her ailments, kindly make arrangement for shifting her with her owner to some place outside the city limits of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, where entry of elephants has been prohibited. Though it may be inhumane to separate elephants from their owner in present state, the owner must be booked for the offence and awarded suspended punishment under the law.

Kindly inform the committee about the steps taken on the above lines."

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