Karnataka HC takes up Hassan monkey massacre case

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Friday initiated Public Interest Litigation (PIL) proceedings, after taking suo motu cognizance of media reports about several Bonnet Macaques (a species of monkeys) found dead and poisoned in gunny bags on the side of the road in Sakleshpur.

A Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, and Justice NS Sanjay Gowda describing the news as “disturbing”gave orders for the Registrar General to register a suo motu PIL in the matter.

The court issued the orders after observing that several media had reported about the incident which is reported to have taken place on Juky 28 night.

“It is necessary for the court to take cognisance of this issue in the light of the law laid down by the apex court,” it noted.

The district administration, as well as the Forest Department, and the Animal Welfare Board, are being made respondents.

Over Monkeys were found killed in Chowdanahalli village of Belur taluk in Hassan. As many as 20 Bonnet Macaques were found to be in a critical state. However, barring two, the others recovered and left after local residents gave them water to drink.