Power of Veterinary Officer to castrate bulls

(1) If the Veterinary Officer is unable to ascertain, after an inquiry in the prescribed manner or other wise, the person in whose ownership, possession or custody a bull is for the time being, he may seize the bull or caused it to be seized and, if he is of the opinion that the bull has attained the prescribed age and is unsuitable for breeding purpose on any of the grounds specified in sub-section (1) of section 21, may cause the bull to be castrated and marked free of charge in such manner and with such mark as may be prescribed. (2) Every bull seized under sub-section (1) shall, after it has been castrated and marked, where necessary, be sent to a Pinjrapole or infirmary recognized by the State Government in this behalf or sold by public auction; and the proceeds of such sale, if any, shall be credited to the Consolidated Fund of the State in the prescribed manner after deduction the cost of maintenance and arrangement for sale of the bull to be calculated in the prescribed manner. (3) If the owner of the bull seized under sub-section (1) appears before the Veterinary Officer within such time as may be prescribed in this behalf and proves in the satisfaction of the officer that the bull is owned by him: (i) In case the bull has been sold by public auction, the proceeds of such sale shall be paid to the owner after deduction there from the costs of maintenance and arrangements for sale of the bull; and (ii) In any other case, the bull shall be delivered to the owner on payment of the cost of its maintenance; Provided that the owner shall not be entitled to anything. If the bull dies before the sale or as the case may be, before it is delivered to the owner.