Madras HC notice to govt for cancelling bail to MBBS students
The Madras High Court yesterday issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government on a petition seeking cancellation of bail granted by a lower court to two MBBS students, who had thrown a five-month-old stray dog from the terrace of a three-storied building earlier this month.
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Justice P N Prakash, who issued the notice returnable in two weeks, said the pendency of the petition for cancelling the bail granted to the two final-year MBBS cannot be a reason for stay of investigation in the case.
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The notice was issued on a petition by Antony Clement Rubin, honorary Animal Welfare Officer of the Animal Welfare Board of India.
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Rubin sought cancellation of the bail granted by the judicial magistrate in Sriperumbudur to Gowtham Sudarshan and Asish Paul, students of Madha Medical College, on July 6 last.
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Contending that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is a toothless legislation in India, he submitted that violent acts toward animals have long been acknowledged as indicators of a violent psychopathology that does not confine itself to animals.
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"Studies have convinced sociologists, lawmakers and courts in developed nations that acts of cruelty to animals merit attention. They can be the first augury of a violent pathology that includes humans," he said.
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The petitioner stressed the need of a judicial system to recognise that cruel actions deserve immediate action regardless of past criminal behaviour, so as to prevent the second offence. A strong message must be sent to any person who feels he can dominate abuse or torture another creature, he said.
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The petitioner also sought a direction to subject the two students to a psychiatrist test, to do community service at Blue Cross or any other society and to bear the cost of medicine and future maintenance of the dog, named 'Bhadra'.
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On July 5, Sudarshan allegedly threw the dog from the top of a building here, which was video graphed by his friend.
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Soon after the footage went viral in the social media, animal welfare activists filed a complaint with police. The duo was arrested the next day but was soon released on bail.