Power of Livestock Officer to castrate.

1. (1) Whenever an offence under sub- -section (3) of section 12 has been committed, or whenever any bull has not been castrated in compliance with the notice served under section 10, it shall be competent to a Livestock Officer

to castrate or cause to be castrated in the prescribed manner, the bull in respect of which such offence was committed or such notice was served, as the case may be. Such castration shall be performed or caused to be performed by a Livestock Officer free of charge.

1. (2) It shall also be competent to a Livestock Officer to seize any bull, if the person in whose ownership, possession or custody it is, for the time being, is not known or cannot be ascertained after an inquiry in the prescribed manner. On such seizure the Livestock Officer may, if he is of

opinion that such bull has attained the prescribed age or is suffering from any of the defects or diseases specified in section 6, direct that the said bull shall be—

1. (a) castrated in the prescribed manner, and
2. (b) sold by public auction or sent to a pinjrapol: Provided that if the owner of the said bull appears within fifteen days of such seizure and

proves to the satisfaction of the Livestock Officer that the said bull is of his ownership, the said bull —

1. (i) if not sold by public auction, or
2. (ii) if sent to a pinjrapol, shall be delivered to such owner on payment of the costs, charges and expenses incurred for the maintenance of the said bull and determined in the prescribed manner, or
3. (iii) if sold by public auction, the proceeds of such sale shall be paid to such owner after deducting therefrom the costs, charges and expenses incurred for the maintenance and sale of the said bull and determined in the prescribed manner.