ANIMAL LAWS
From 10 rupees to 50, from 55 rupees to a 100. Thinking this might be the price of something small and trivial, like a candy or an eraser?
Nope.
This is how much one has to pay (only if they get caught or are booked by the police) after committing a gruesome, life-threatening act of cruelty against an innocent animals in India. The archaic Prevention of Cruelty against Animals Act has not been revised since 1960 and finally, there is a proposal to amend it and add a section 11 to make it stricter. The section plans to impose a fine of Rs 75,000 and up to five years of strict imprisonment or both, in case of killing an animal, and Rs 50,000 and three years of imprisonment or both, in case of “gruesome or life-threatening” cruelty against animals, respectively. The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has invited suggestions from stakeholders to review the current proposal.
A Ray of Hope or a Slap on the Wrist
Although the new section proposes some laudable changes, animal welfare activists believe there are many gaps to be addressed. The exceptions to section 11 (B) are somewhat ambiguous and humanistic. It appears to be an area which can be utilized by wrongdoers to evade the consequences of their cruelty. The most vocal advocate against the shortcomings of the proposed section was the FIAPO (Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations), of which Sarvoham is also a member. In a press release, Verda Mehrotra, the Executive Director of the organization, insisted on revisions that reflected the values of our society, spiritual ethos of Ahimsa, and compassion from the constitution. The FIAPO also stressed on the demand for making the law cognizable. It reminded the authorities that the terms “gruesome” and “life-threatening” should be clearly defined so that these gaps may not be used to bypass the law. It also demanded the deletion of section 28 that allows the killing of animals as required by religion. Finally, the FIAPO declared that the animal’s ‘Absolute Right to Life’ is of paramount importance, and must not be hindered by any human induced factor or activity.
Sarvoham welcomes the government’s step to revamp the law, and supports the FIAPO in its effort to eradicate animal cruelty to make this world a safer place for animals.
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.
– Albert Einstein
