Synopsis: On Friday, the Delhi High Court ordered the central government to file its response to a petition seeking directions to the Center to ban inhumane animal husbandry practices and methods used to euthanize animals.
The Delhi High Court Friday sought a response from Centre and Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on a PIL seeking a restriction on allegedly “inhumane animal husbandry” practices in the nation.
A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan issued notice to the the Centre, AWBI and animal husbandry departments of all states and union territories (UTs), asking their stand on the petition of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA), India.
PETA India, represented by the advocates Aman Hingorani and Himanshu Yadav, also sought a ban on the alleged “cruel methods used in India for animal euthanasia.”
PETA, also represented by Advocate Swati Sumbly, sought direction from the Centre to lay down rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in order to describe, govern and enhance the prescribed practices of animal husbandry, such as nose roping, branding, castration and cattle dehorning. It has also attempted to substitute these techniques with humane alternate approaches, such as face halter, systems for radio frequency detection and hornless cattle breeding.
Another relief it seeks is the creation by the Centre, AWBI, states and UTs, standard operating procedures for performing animal husbandry procedures and the use of anesthesia overdose for euthanasia or mass slaughtering of animals for control of diseases.
In its appeal, PETA argued that the predominant crude forms of euthanasia or mass killing of animals for control of disease, involve administering chemicals that slowly interrupt the operation of the heart and lungs when animals are still conscious and bury or burn them alive.
It sought immediate prohibition on such inhumane procedures, rules to define, regulate, and improve the prescribed processes, and replacement of outdated procedures with humane alternative methods.
PETA India CEO and Chief Veterinarian Dr Manilal Valliyate told to the reporters, that when the nerve-rich cord connected to the testicles is crushed, anyone can imagine the immense pain suffered by the animals in it. Similar pain is suffered when a thick, blunt needle passes through the nasal septum; or when the skin is burned with hot iron.
However, Dr. Valliyate added that without a comprehensive government direction, veterinary service providers frequently resort to brutal, painful, and straightforward brutal practices during traditional husbandry operations that expose countless animals to anxiety, discomfort, and misery. When these costly operations are not permitted to be conducted without medical anaesthetics, the same will happen to other animals.
Following advisories from India’s Animal Welfare Board and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying concerning humane animal husbandry procedures and euthanasia, many state departments of animal husbandry have directed their veterinarians to use lethal means. However, in the absence of enforceable law which defines, improves and regulates these methods, during such procedures, animals continue to be treated cruelly.
The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on 15th September, by the court.