The Kerala High Court on Monday allowed a cat owner's plea to allow him to buy pet-food amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

The petitioner, N Prakash, an owner of three cats had approached the Court aggrieved by the decision of the police to refuse him vehicle pass for purchasing cat food.

During the hearing conducted through video conferencing, the bench comprising Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Shaji P Chaly asked the petitioner whether the cat will not eat other food. He said the cats are fed a biscuit named "Meo-Persian", since he is a vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is not cooked in his house. One packet of 7 kilogram of "Meo Persian" is sufficient for the cats for three weeks. After the stock got exhausted, he applied online for vehicle pass for travelling to Cochin Pet Hospital on April 4 for buying the said brand of cat food.

The Additional Advocate General, Ranjith Thampan, submitted that the petitioner could go for buying the pet food on the basis of a self-declaration.

The Court took note of the fact that "animal food and fodder" are covered under essential items.

Accordingly, the petition was allowed, and the Court said that the petitioner will be able to go on the basis of a self-declaration, along with the order of the Court.





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