Latest news with #PreventionofCrueltytoAnimalsAct1960
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dogs and laws: on street dogs and the Supreme Court order
The August 11 Supreme Court order represents the most forceful judicial intervention yet on the matter of free-roaming dogs. By directing Delhi and its satellites to collect every street dog within eight weeks, confine them permanently in pounds, and expand shelter capacity at speed, the Court has signalled its willingness to override administrative lethargy. Delhi records roughly 30,000 dog bite cases a year and rabies still kills poor urban residents with patchy access to post-exposure prophylaxis. The Court's blunt instrument conflicts with the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023, specifically its doctrine of 'capture, neuter, vaccinate, release', and which forbid municipalities from permanently relocating healthy dogs or impounding them for long periods except if a dog is rabid, incurably ill or found to be dangerously aggressive by a veterinarian. The Rules have failed the test of numbers, however. Urban dog populations have continued to swell despite sporadic sterilisation drives because 70% coverage, below which reproduction rebounds, has almost nowhere been reached. The prescription to return dogs to their territories has entrenched packs in the same high-density neighbourhoods where children play and garbage accumulates. The Rules also block municipalities from exploring alternative strategies such as long-term impoundment. Now, if the Rules are intact, municipal officers who confine dogs could be prosecuted; if they obey the Rules, they risk contempt of court. Policymakers should treat this conflict as an opportunity to confront an outdated legal setup. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 was enacted when India's urban footprint was modest. Today's conurbations with dense informal settlements cannot afford such dog populations. Entrenched ideological positions that romanticise 'community dogs' and regard confinement as oppression take insufficient account of the dense human ecology. A modern statute should clearly distinguish between sociable dogs that can find homes; aggressive or chronically ill dogs that require euthanasia; and the large residual category that can live in proper shelters — but none on public roads. Cities should impose duties on municipalities, specify minimum staffing and veterinary standards for pounds, and tie fiscal transfers to reductions in morbidity. Urban local bodies also need steady funding, perhaps under the National Centre for Disease Control, to bankroll the construction and operation of shelters and to fund large-scale sterilisation teams. Veterinary education councils should integrate shelter medicine into curricula to ensure a workforce exists to staff new facilities. Without such support, Delhi risks swapping its dog menace with underfunded canine slammers at the city's edge, invisible but also cruel.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Time of India
Police form teams to check illegal cattle transportation
Udupi: In view of the repeated cases of cattle theft reported in the jurisdiction of Byndoor police station, under the guidance of SP Hariram Shankar, Udupi district police appointed three teams to investigate and track down the suspects involved in cattle theft cases. The teams include Timmesh BN, Naveen Borakar, PSIs of Baindur station, Vinay, PSI, Kollur station, Basavaraj, PSI, Gangolli station, and staff members Nagendra, Mohan, Suresh, Chetan, Jayaram, Satish, Chidanand, Malappa Desai, Sridhar Patil, and Parayya Mathapati. In connection with a crime reported at Byndoor police station under Section 303(2) of BNS and 4, 5, 7, 12 of the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, and Section 11(1)(D) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, the team arrested the accused. The SP said Mohammad Kaif from Sasthan and Mohammad Suhail Khadar from Uchila Kapu, were arrested and presented before a court. The vehicles, including three cars, used in the theft and transportation, were seized. Additionally, four cattle transported in these vehicles were rescued and sent to a shelter, he said.
The Print
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Punjab assembly passes animal welfare bill to resume bullock cart racing. ‘Not cruelty,' says CM Mann
Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian introduced the bill saying that similar legislations have been brought about in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. He said the bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 was passed by the state assembly in 2019, which was then sent to the President by the governor. 'The President gave assent to the bill in 2024,' said the minister. Khudian said that bullock cart races are among the most popular sports in the Kila Raipur rural sports games which started in 1933. A 2019 Bill brought in by the then Congress government in the state that allowed the resumption of bullock cart races at the famous Kila Raipur Rural games in Ludhiana had received the assent of the President in September 2024. The bill passed by the assembly today widened the 2024 Act beyond Kila Raipur to include all rural games across the state. Chandigarh: The Punjab assembly Friday unanimously passed the 'The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025' to facilitate the resumption of bullock cart races in rural games across Punjab. The popular sport was banned in 2014 following a Supreme Court ruling. Speaking during the discussion on the bill, Chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that the animals used in the games were taken care of by the owners as if they were children. 'Specially crafted ornaments and decorations are bought to make them look beautiful. They are fed the best of feed and kept healthy,' said Mann, adding that it was wrong to say that these animals are subjected to cruelty. He said just as bullock cart races were banned in Punjab, the Jallikattu sport had been banned in Tamil Nadu. 'The ban on Jallikattu has been lifted. That, too, is a traditional sport involving bulls,' said the CM. Jallikattu is a bull-taming event held during pongal celebrations in Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister said that rural games have been an integral part of the culture of the state. He said that the bill aims at giving impetus to rural games, particularly bullock cart races and others which were held in every part of the state. Mann said cattle have been an integral part of the agrarian economy of the state and Punjabi farmers have always nurtured cattle as their children. 'Punjabis have always loved games like bullock cart race and the race at Kila Raipur was acclaimed the world over,' he said. He also said the bill will be instrumental in further popularising such games across the state in future without harming the animals. 'Special focus will be laid on protecting the animals and any sort of cruelty against them will not be allowed,' said the CM. The Chief Minister said that the main objective of this bill is to ensure safety measures for animals taking part in sports, with adequate animal veterinary supervision, safety standards, registration/documentation and penalty for violations. He that this bill will also help save indigenous cattle breeds of Punjab, besides promoting traditional sports in the villages. The bill will now be sent to the Governor for approval. The rules framed under the 2024 act have already been approved by the Punjab cabinet. 'Bullock cart races are nothing short of savagery' When contacted Ambika Shukla, a trustee with People for Animals (PFA), told ThePrint that holding bullock cart races was nothing short of 'savagery'. 'It belittles us as a society. It reduces us as human beings,' she said. 'How can bullock cart races be called a sport? A sport involves voluntary participation and contest between competing equals where skill, endurance and strength is tested. These races and nothing but a test of torture. These involve hitting, beating and other forms of torture to make the bull run. Bulls, and for that matter all cattle, are not animals which can run fast. They are slow moving animals and to make them run, all sorts of cruelty is undertaken. So many of them die, if not on the day of a race, then subsequently,' added Shukla. 'Just because as human beings we have the upper hand, do we have to bring it down so heavily and cruelly on animals? Our hand should be that of a benevolent, kind caretaker,' she further said. Previous such bills In May 2023, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the amendments made by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 that permitted Jallikattu and Kambala and bullock-cart races. The five-judge Bench of the apex court had overruled a judgment of a two-judge SC Bench in 2014. The 2014 judgement had banned the Jallikattu events and all bullock cart races. In 2017, the Tamil Nadu government passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act that permitted the sport, while introducing rules to govern the practice including banning use of force, whips, etc., during the conduct of the sport. The Act was challenged in the Supreme Court by bodies working towards prevention of cruelty towards animals. The petitions were referred to a five judge bench in 2018. Addressing a press conference following the end of the assembly's proceedings for the day, Mann said his government had restored the glory of a traditional event. 'The bullock cart races are among the most popular events in rural games. These are not limited to Kila Raipur alone,' said Mann. He met some bullock cart owners outside the assembly who had come to thank him. BJP leader Jaiveer Shergill who met Union Ministers Hardeep Puri last year and Anurag Thakur in 2023 for the resumption of bullock cart races, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring that the 2019 Bill gets the Presidents' assent in 2024. 'Thanks to the efforts of the PM @narendramodi Govt, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 received Presidential assent in 2024 paving the way for bullock cart races in Kila Raipur heritage games. Today, the Punjab Govt has moved the 2025 Amendment Bill to allow bullock cart races across the state—a welcome step! Urge the Punjab Govt to ensure that all rural sports, including greyhound racing are regulated transparently and allowed without arbitrary administrative hurdles. Rural games are the heartbeat of Punjab—they deserve protection, not obstruction!' Shergill wrote on X. Thanks to the efforts of the PM @narendramodi Govt, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 received Presidential assent in 2024 paving the way for bullock cart races in Kila Raipur heritage games. Today, the Punjab Govt has moved the 2025 Amendment… — Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) July 11, 2025 (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: 'Won't disrupt legislature view': Supreme Court upholds bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Time of India
Appoint officers for stray animal plaints: North Goa collector
Panaji: The North Goa collector has asked the directorate of municipal administration and the directorate of panchayats to each appoint a nodal officer to coordinate complaints that the District Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) receives. The DSPCA said that while the police are quick to respond to complaints, stakeholders find it challenging to get the same level of cooperation from panchayats or municipal bodies. 'A decision was taken to ask the two departments to appoint nodal officers at the rank of deputy director to assist complainants,' said North Goa collector Ankit Yadav. Yadav also said that there is a significant lack of awareness about the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and the process to file complaints. 'We have decided to tie up with the education department to hold awareness drives in schools,' said Yadav. This was the annual general meeting of the DSPCA where the audited accounts were presented. The members also reviewed the complaints received in the last 12 months along with works that were executed. DSPCA (north) attends to all cases of animal cruelty. It also mediates in cases involving feeder harassment issues with resident welfare associations and housing societies to find feeding spots in coordination with other departments.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Stray dog brutally assaulted in Wagholi, in critical condition
The Wagholi police on Saturday filed a cruelty towards animals' case against unidentified person/s for brutally assaulting a stray dog with a sharp object in the Wagholi area. The canine, currently critical, suffered wounds all over its body and even had sharp objects inserted into its private parts. According to the police, the incident occurred at around 6.30 pm on Friday, July 4, at Rohan Abhilasha Society, Wagholi. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) Padmini Stump, founder of Mission Possible, said, 'The hapless dog is still alive, but its condition is critical. Its multiple wounds have been stitched and medical treatment is being administered to stop the heavy bleeding. Sharp objects were inserted into its private parts, and it was stabbed mercilessly all over its body right from the top of its head. An ice pick may have been used at the bottom to torture it… We have raised numerous such cases in the past. The police should take stern action against the culprits.' The Wagholi police Saturday evening registered the case against unidentified person/s under section 11 (1) (a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and section 325 (mischief by killing or maiming animals) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), said senior police inspector Yuvraj Hande attached to the Wagholi police station. According to the police, the incident occurred at around 6.30 pm on Friday, July 4, at Rohan Abhilasha Society, Wagholi. Upon returning home, Vinod Walunj, a resident of the society, saw the stray dog lying in a grievously injured state in front of his house. The dog had sustained injuries all over its body. Other society members – Rajesh Pachpor and Bhakti Raghavendra – who were also present at the time, immediately took the injured canine to Get Well Pet Clinic in Wagholi for treatment. Veterinarian Dr Bijaya K Mahapatra administered treatment to the injured dog, and said that the injuries appeared to have been caused by a sharp object. As the clinic did not have the facility to admit the dog, it was taken to the Mission Possible Foundation in the Camp area. The police registered the offence based on Walunj's official complaint. Senior PI Hande confirmed that an FIR has been registered based on the complaint filed by one of the society residents. 'Investigation is underway and we are yet to identify the accused,' he said.
