Petition for amendment of “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1960”

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Animal cruelty is described generally as any act or omission that causes unnecessary or unreasonable harm to an animal. Animals are exploited since they are mute spectators and are incapable of raising their voice against these cruelties. Most animal welfare Acts will provide particular examples of cruelty. These may include:

  1. Torturing or beating an animal;
  2. Confining or transporting an animal in a way that is inappropriate for its welfare;
  3. Killing an animal in an inhumane manner;
  4. Failing to provide appropriate or adequate food or water for an animal;
  5. Failing to provide appropriate treatment for disease or injury; and
  6. Failing to provide appropriate living conditions.

Analysis of ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1960.’

  • Section 11 (a) to (o) has enumerated different forms of cruelty to the animals.
  • The law strictly prohibits unnecessary cruelty to animals and lays down guidelines for transportation of animals.
  • It is illegal to kill homeless animals.
  • The law strictly prohibits treating animals cruelly and has also laid down the ways in which an animal could be exploited or abused, like beating, kicking, over-riding or torturing by which it suffers pain unnecessarily, or keeping an animal chained for an unreasonable period and all, these acts would result in punishment including a fine ranging between Rs 10 and 50 and for a subsequent offence, a fine between Rs 25 and 100 or imprisonment for three months.

Many animals are used for testing different medicines and cosmetics. Although they are not required by law, several tests are commonly performed that expose mice, rats, rabbits and guinea pigs to cosmetics ingredients. These can include: Skin and eye irritation tests where chemicals are rubbed onto the shaved skin or dripped into the eyes of restrained rabbits without any pain relief.
Every day a lot many innocent animals face such cruelty, but the offenders get away with it as the fines provided under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act are very low, and therefore people do not hesitate to cause any harm to animals.
Why people don’t care about this issue? Why politicians don’t talk about it? Why pressure groups are no formed? Simple, because animals don’t form their vote banks.
The major loophole that needs immediate attention is the amount of compensation/fine imposed on any offender under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1956 is peanuts. The amount of fine ranges between Rs 10 and 50 will not hinder any cruelty towards animals. Today, everybody is in a rush, and the youth specifically has no care for anybody, and 70% of the accidents of animals are caused due to rash and negligent driving.
The offenses under the act are either cognizable or non-cognizable, Clause of Section 11 and Section 12 are cognizable, wherein the punishment is negligible, even the imprisonment is just for three months. Although under Section 38 of the act major punishments are covered. However, these punishments are non-cognizable, meaning that the police cannot arrest a person without a warrant. The Government can play a pivotal role in this context and can Suo moto action (independently) when they come across such happenings. Also, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1956, there is a provision for the requirement of setting up of a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in every state but leaving a few states there is no such society in the rest of the country. 
I plead you all to sign this petition. Even though animals are not vote banks, we are, and if we pressurize the government will take action. If not the government I am sure the judiciary will. “Lets show dogs that if they can be our best friend, we can be their best friend too!” (P.s- Dog here, refers to all the animals)

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