Broad livestock definition can include prawns under market law, validating levy of market fee on notified produce.

A broad statutory definition of "livestock" under the Andhra Pradesh (Agricultural Produce and Livestock) Markets Act, 1966 can extend to aquatic animals where they are covered by valid notification. Prawns were treated as falling within the notified category because they are aquatic animals with attributes of life, sensation and voluntary motion, and the fact that they are not quadrupeds did not exclude them. Earlier decisions were distinguished on different statutory language and commodities, so the levy of market fee on dead or dried prawns was upheld.

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Issues: Whether dead or dried prawns fall within the expression "livestock" under the Andhra Pradesh (Agricultural Produce and Livestock) Markets Act, 1966, and whether the State Government could validly notify prawns for the purpose of levy of market fee.

Analysis: The Act defines "livestock" broadly to include cows, buffaloes, bullocks, bulls, goats and sheep, and also poultry, fish and such other animals as may be declared by notification. The State had issued a notification covering the fish group, including live prawn with or without life in any form and dry prawn. The Court held that prawn is an aquatic animal and possesses the attributes of life, sensation and voluntary motion, and therefore cannot be excluded from the notified category merely because it is not a quadruped. The reliance placed on earlier decisions was distinguished, as those cases turned on different statutory language and different commodities. The argument based on non-filing of appeals in similar matters was also rejected as inapplicable.

Conclusion: Dead or dried prawns were validly treated as livestock for the purposes of the Act, and the appellant was liable to pay market fee. The challenge to the demand failed.

Ratio Decidendi: A statutory notification validly issued under a broad definition of livestock can include aquatic animals such as prawns, and market fee is leviable on notified produce or livestock sold in the notified market area.

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