Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday sought response of the Centre and state government on a PIL alleging cruelty to animals at the cattle markets in the state where domesticated bovines are reportedly kept tightly tethered, without access to water and under the hot sun for the entire day.

A bench of justices Ziyad Rahman A A and K V Jayakumar issued notice to the Centre, Kerala government, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and the Perumbavoor municipality seeking their stand on the claims made in the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by animal rights activist Angels Nair.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 25.

Nair, in his plea, has claimed that municipal and other local body cattle markets, including the one at Perumbavoor, are operating without proper shelter or adequate water facilities for the animals.

"The cattle will be slaughtered in a couple of days, which is not an excuse for inflicting unfathomable agony," the plea has said.

The petition has further alleged that cattle markets in the state are operating in violation of the advisory on 'Livestock in the Event of Heat Wave Situation' issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, as well as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017.

It has sought directions from the High Court to put a stop to the illegal functioning of cattle markets in Kerala. PTI