HC: No desert, then why have camels in Telangana?

HYDERABAD: Seeking answers as to why as many as 71 camels are inhabiting in Telangana where there is no desert, the high court on Thursday questioned the state government, its transport and police authorities as to what are they doing at the highway checkposts when these desert animals are brought into the state in an unlawful manner.
A bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy posed several questions to state’s special counsel A Sanjeev Kumar while hearing a PIL filed by Dr Shashikala Kopanati of Earth Quotient, an NGO, seeking directions to the illegal slaughtering of camels during ensuing Bakrid in particular and to discourage the illegal and inhuman transportation of camels from Rajasthan into Telangana in general.
Responding to a query from the bench, Sanjeev said that the authorities had seized eight camels from those who were smuggling them into the state and sent them back to Rajasthan. “Those that were already brought in were being monitored and we will not allow them to be slaughtered,” he said.
In some areas, some people are eking out a living by using these animals for taking children on joyrides, he said. “Rajasthan’s economy is dependent on camels but its numbers are dwindling due to illegal transportation. This is happening despite that state banning it,” the bench said. Brushing aside a suggestion that Muslims eat camel meat on Bakrid as part of their custom, the bench said there was no such custom in Islam. The bench posted the case to Friday for further hearing.