Power of live-stock officer to castrate.

(1) Whenever an offence under section 14 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 live-stock 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 live-stock officer free of charge. (2) It shall also be competent to a live-stock 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 live-stock 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- (a) castrated in the prescribed manner, and (b) sold by public auction or sent to a panjarapol: Provided that if the owner of the said bull appears within fifteen days of, such seizure and proves to the satisfaction of the live-stock officer that the said bull is of his ownership, the said bull- (i) if not sold by public auction, or (ii) if sent to a panjarapol, 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 (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.