KATHMANDU: Concerned over the fate of stray cattle, especially cows and oxen, a writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court demanding that the government ensure immediate protection of the animals in Kathmandu.

Advocate Padam Bahadur Shrestha, on Sunday, filed the writ at the apex court naming the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and the Department of Livestock Services among others as the defendants.

Shrestha has demanded to put an end to the ill-treatment and cruelty towards the stray cattle, especially cows and oxen. He has urged the government to protect them from hunger and diseases, and provide them safe shelters.

Shrestha stated the significance of cows in his petition by mentioning Article 9(3) of the present Constitution of the country that regards cow as the national animal. He also highlighted the significance of cows in Hinduism as symbolic to Goddess Laxmi.

In the writ, he has pointed out how cows, oxen and their calves were abandoned once the cattle stop giving milk or ploughing and has sought mandamus or any other appropriate decree to discourage the trend of abandoning domesticated cows and oxen after their utility comes to an end.