Guidelines Needed To Ensure Ethical Treatment Of Animals Even If They Are Raised For Human Consumption: Madras High Court

During the course of the hearing, the Bench of Justice Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy observed,

"The matter is of some concern not only because it pertains to cattle, but because the present petitioner draws the Court's attention to animals which are slaughtered for human consumption or used in industry or the like."

Further, the State Government was directed to file its counter-affidavit within six weeks, dealing not only with the transportation of cattle, but also the transportation of goat and sheep and lamb in addition.

Importantly, the Court also said,

"The carrying of chicken, the most common source of animal protein these days, must also be covered. Guidelines need to be laid out to ensure a more ethical treatment of animals, even if they are raised for the purpose of human consumption."

Thereafter, the matter was listed for further hearing on 05^th April 2021.

About the Plea

One V S K Tamilselvan of Erode filed the plea before the Court stating that illegal transportation of cattle is rampant in the state, particularly from one district to another.

It was also alleged that such transportation of cattle is in complete violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960.

It was also submitted that despite the enactment of several rules and regulations, which provide for proper treatment of cattle, particularly cows, which are transported to slaughterhouses, no such regulations are followed.

Related news

The Karnataka High Court recently set aside an order of the Magistrate court handing over custody of ten dogs given to their owner who treated them with cruelty.

A single bench of Justice H P Sandesh, set aside the order of the magistrate court which restored the animals to the man accused of cruelty and handed over the dogs to an NGO, Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, which expressed a willingness to take care of them.

Right to live in a healthy and clean atmosphere and right to get protection from human beings against inflicting unnecessary pain or suffering is a right guaranteed to the animals under Section 3 and Section 11 of the PCA Act read with Article 51- A(g) and (h) of the Constitution of India", the Court observed.

Also, noting that animals, like the human beings have the capability of comprehending the physical and mental pain and that they do feel the severity of the physical harm inflicted on them, the Gujarat High Court last month denied bail to a man accused of various offences punishable under The Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act.

The Bench of Justice Bela M. Trivedi further observed that the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act and the Animal Preservation Act have been enacted to punish severely the persons indulged in inflicting cruelty to the animals.

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