Latest news with #Ramlila
The Print
03-06-2025
- The Print
Indian laws are letting animals down every day. It's a legal, moral, ethical issue
Just the past few months have seen multiple cases of sexual abuse of stray dogs—from a man who allegedly assaulted as many as 13 strays in Delhi to another arrested for abusing a dog in Bengaluru. These are not isolated events. They reflect a disturbing pattern of violence that continues unabated across the country. An FIR was eventually registered against the organisers under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. But such legal action is rare and, more often than not, symbolic. In a country where a dog being tied to an autorickshaw and dragged through the streets barely makes the news cycle, the moral and legal silence is deafening. A young camel calf collapsed and died in Ghaziabad after being overworked, starved, and denied medical care during Ramlila festivities last October. The animal's death, followed by the hurried disposal of its body by the organisers, was not just an act of cruelty—it was an erasure of evidence, a denial of dignity, and a stark reminder of how invisible animal suffering remains in India. A 2021 report by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) and All Creatures Great and Small (ACGS) documented over a thousand such cases between 2010 and 2020, including sexual violence and acid attacks. These were compiled not from police records, but from media reports and NGO data—because India still doesn't formally track crimes against animals. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does not even include them in its annual Crime in India report. This is not just a bureaucratic oversight. It is a systemic failure—one that denies legal recognition to victims, weakens enforcement, and perpetuates a cycle of cruelty without consequence. Also Read: Stray dogs don't 'charge to kill', 'plot to poop'. So-called menace is a human-made problem A law that doesn't bite India's primary legislation for animal protection, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, is outdated and toothless. A person who tortures or kills an animal can often walk away with a fine of just Rs 50 on a first offence. While the BNS replaces the older IPC Sections 428 and 429 with Section 325—allowing up to five years' imprisonment for killing or maiming animals—this provision remains underused and poorly enforced. With such leniency, it's no wonder that cruelty continues unchecked. The lack of deterrence, combined with inadequate enforcement, makes animals the most expendable victims in our society. Animal cruelty is a public safety issue Animal abuse is not just a fringe issue. Psychological and criminological research around the world has consistently shown that individuals who abuse animals are more likely to commit acts of violence against humans. Some criminal cases in India have shown this link as well. For instance, in the 2016 Jisha case in Kerala, where a young woman was raped and murdered, the accused had a disturbing history of animal abuse. In the US, law enforcement agencies like the FBI have gone a step further, tracking animal cruelty as a specific category in their national crime database, recognising its value in identifying future violent offenders. One study found that 43 per cent of school shooters had previously committed acts of animal cruelty, often targeting neighbourhood pets. In India, such data is absent. But the pattern is visible to anyone willing to look. What must change If India is to move beyond performative compassion, it must start by acknowledging cruelty to animals as a serious crime—both in law and in practice. That means reimagining our legal architecture and addressing the glaring gaps in enforcement and documentation. The first step is reforming the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. This law, written over 60 years ago, was never designed to deal with the kinds of organised, intentional cruelty we see today. The penalties it prescribes are outdated and ineffective. We need a modern law—one that increases fines, extends prison terms, and makes serious crimes like sexual abuse or organised violence against animals non-bailable. Equally important is the question of visibility. Today, animal cruelty is not even recorded in India's official crime statistics. The National Crime Records Bureau must include these offences in its annual Crime in India report. Without data, policymakers, enforcement agencies, and the courts remain blind to the scale of the problem. Recording such crimes is a moral and legal necessity. Lastly, enforcement cannot improve unless those tasked with it are equipped for the job. Police officers and judicial personnel need proper training—not just in the legal framework governing animal welfare, but in understanding how animal abuse is often a precursor to human violence. Recognising this connection is vital for ensuring that such crimes are not brushed aside or dismissed as minor. Also Read: Animal cruelty needs more than tough laws, aggressive policing. Colonial-era battles show why Beyond the law: A moral reckoning Article 51A(g) of our Constitution calls on every citizen to show compassion toward all living beings. Article 48A directs the State to protect wildlife and the environment. The Supreme Court, in Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja (2014), recognised animals' right to live with dignity under Article 21. Yet, these constitutional ideals are a stark contrast to the everyday realities of unchecked abuse. When we allow such cruelty to be normalised—when we fail to record it, prosecute it, or even acknowledge it—we don't just fail animals. We fail ourselves. Justice Radhakrishnan, who authored the Nagaraja judgment, called for a stronger PCA Act over a decade ago. Yet, no meaningful legislative change has followed. Eleven years later, animals remain at the mercy of an indifferent system and an outdated law. India now stands at a moral and legal crossroads. The question is not whether animals matter. It is whether we do. Whether we have the courage to confront our collective complicity—or whether we will wait for the next viral video, the next unspeakable act, the next avoidable death. The author is an advocate at the Supreme Court of India & Delhi High Court, and head consultant at the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO). She specialises in animal law and policy reform. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Operation Sindoor theme to rule Delhi Ramlilas in 2025, during the Dussehra festivities in September-October
Post the recent India-Pakistan border tensions, the war might have been averted but citizens continue to look for ways to ensure the efforts of our soldiers are never forgotten. As a mark of tribute, several Ramlila committees across Delhi-NCR have decided to honour the Armed Forces during this year's theatrical staging of the Ramayana, ahead of the Dussehra festivities. During a special meeting conducted on Friday, by Shri Ramlila Mahasangh – an organisation representing approximately 850 Ramlila committees across the Capital – four proposals were put forth. The first among these was to pay homage to Indian soldiers through thematic tableaux and/or the screening of a documentary. Arjun Kumar, president, of the association and Lav Kush Ramlila, shares: 'We invited 200 out of the 850 big and small Ramlila committees from across the city. Unanimously, all of them agreed ki humein is saal Ramlila mein apni saina ka shaurya – which we witnessed during Operation Sindoor – woh stage par dikhana chahiye. We have sent out a message to all Ramlila committees to either present a tableau themed on the Army's bravery, as part of the Ramlila they organise, or screen a short film of about 15-20 minutes that we will be providing. Some Ramlila committees have also promised to depict the efforts of our Armed Forces through plays.' This year, the Ramlilas in Delhi will be staged for 12 days – one day more than usual – from September 22 to October 3, with Dussehra being marked on October 2. 'Tab tak kaafi time ho jayega, aur logon ko humein bhulne nahi dena ki humari sena ne humare liye kya kya kiya hai,' shares Mahender Nagpal, president of the Ashok Vihar Ramlila Committee. He adds: 'Like the Tiranga Yatra was recently organised in honour of our soldiers, this too is our way of keeping their sacrifices alive in public memory. And that's precisely why we have resolved to accomplish this through Ramlilas this year… Jab Ramlila ke stage par yeh message chalaya jayega tab logon tak humari baat pahunch payegi… Our nation wants peace but is fully capable of striking when threatened.'
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Ramlilas committees across Delhi to screen Operation Sindoor to honour forces
NEW DELHI: Nearly 850 Ramlila committees across Delhi will hold a special daily screening of Operation Sindoor before their performances this Navratri as a tribute to the valour of the Indian Armed Forces. Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, will be featured as a special tribute to Indian Armed forces either through a play or a short film ranging 15-20 minutes before the main Ramayana enactment begins. The decision was made during a coordination meeting attended by representatives of the Ramlila committees, along with officials from the Delhi Government, Police, Jal Board, Electricity Department, and the MCD. During the meeting, the Ramlila committees also proposed establishing a Ramayana Research Centre. Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal, who was present at the meeting, said that a tableau showcasing the bravery and valour of the Indian Armed Forces will also be featured in this year's Ramlilas. 'It was suggested to establish a Ramayana Research Institute in Delhi to enable continuous research on the life and deeds of Lord Shri Ram. It was also urged that Sita's birth be enacted along with Ram's in this year's Ramlilas. Both proposals were unanimously accepted. This year, tableaux showcasing the bravery and valour of the Indian Armed Forces will also be featured,' he stated. The committees also assured their cooperation with government agencies on matters related to sanitation, water supply, traffic, and licensing issues during the organisation of Ramlilas. An 11-member coordination committee was formed under Ramlila Mahasangh Chief Arjun Kumar to liaise with various government departments for the smooth conduct of the events.
