Kozhikode: The Kerala high court has issued an order for the immediate appointment of veterinary doctors in the Lakshadweep Islands. The court has set a deadline of three weeks for the same. 

The order was issued by a division bench comprising Justice A Mohammed Mushtaq and Justice Sophy Thomas. The development comes in response to a contempt of court case filed by retired assistant veterinary surgeon C P Abdul Kabeer, who had been serving on Minicoy island. 

The court has also asked the administration to make temporary arrangements as the services of veterinary doctors are not sufficient at the moment. If the administration fails to do so, then the secretary of the animal husbandry department will be summoned to the court. 

The mass dismissal of contract veterinary doctors in Lakshadweep led to the current crisis. Except for Kavaratti island, services of veterinary doctors were not available in the other nine islands. It was the para veterinary officials who had been offering services in those regions for a long time. In response to a public interest litigation filed by interest groups citing the shortage of vets, the high court had earlier directed the officials of the Lakshadweep administration to appoint an adequate number of veterinary doctors across the region. However, the administration failed to comply with the HC order and closed the deal by allocating additional responsibilities to a couple of vets.

The absence of proper veterinary services forced several livestock farmers in Lakshadweep to opt for alternate sources of livelihood. In the case, the petitioner accused the Lakshadweep administration of abusing animal rights as well.

The retired veterinary surgeon also filed an RTI seeking information on the crisis. Dr Abdul Kabeer who currently resides in Kozhikode, is a native of Kalpeni island. 

Advocate K M Firos appeared on behalf of the petitioner. The case will be considered again on July 18.