Do India’s animal cruelty laws need a relook?

The saying goes as ‘dogs are man’s finest pal’. However a latest case in Maharashtra’s Thane proves in any other case.

A video displaying two staffers at a pet clinic mercilessly punching and kicking a canine has gone viral on numerous social media platforms, prompting even Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to take critical observe of the incident.

Many individuals, together with a number of Bollywood actors, akin to Varun Dhawan, Bhumi Pednekar, Malaika Arora, have additionally expressed their outrage over the viral video, demanding justice for the canine. Moreover, it has additionally put the highlight on legal guidelines on animal cruelty within the nation, with many saying that within the present type they’re toothless and with none chunk.

We take a better have a look at what precisely occurred on this horrific case and what do our present legal guidelines say on animal cruelty.

Punches rain down on Chow Chow

A couple of days in the past, a video went viral through which two males are seen punching and kicking a canine at a pet clinic in Maharashtra’s Thane. The horrific abuse occurred on the Vetic Pet Clinic positioned in R Mall in Thane. The clinic specialises in grooming and care of pet animals.

The video reveals two of the clinic’s staffers repeatedly punching a Chow Chow, named Tofu, on its face and again. After that, the canine was seen getting down from the stretcher and strolling out of the room at the same time as the person kicked it.

Shortly after the video went viral, Nilesh Bhange, an office-bearer of animal rights organisation PAWS, and some others approached the Kasarwadavli police station and a non-cognisable criticism was registered. Social media customers additionally condemned the act, calling for motion in opposition to the staffers in addition to the clinic the place the incident occurred.

Later, Road Canine of Bombay, an animal rights group, said that the accused — Mayur Michael Aadhav, 19, and Prashant Sanjay Gaikwad, 20 — had been arrested. The canine’s proprietor, the NGO stated, has additionally taken authorized motion in opposition to the accused.

Name for motion in opposition to the accused

Many huge names, political and from Bollywood, have decried the incident. Maharashtra MLA MLA Pratap Sarnaik, from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, urged the police to take stringent measures. Sarnaik was quoted as telling MiD Day, “The video went viral throughout the nation elevating concern about cruelty to animals. Even the Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, obtained a associated criticism. I request the Thane Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre to file an FIR, within the matter even when a non-cognisable case has been booked.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Aaditya Thackeray additionally voiced his disgust on the incident. He wrote on Instagram, “Just came across this video. This man deserves nothing less than double of how he treats these voiceless creatures.”

Celebs additionally expressed their concern over the abuse to the four-legged animal. Malaika Arora wrote on Instagram, “I am in shock… this disgusting human needs to be punished and beat mercilessly. How the hell does violence like this get away.”

She additional wrote, “I just hope that poor helpless doggie is ok. Am just so angry I believe they have got him. Now authorities time for action and severe punishment.”

Others like Bhumi Pednekar, Riteish Deshmukh, Amruta Arora, Sonu Sood, Varun Dhawan all raised their voice on the matter.

Rising cases of animal cruelty in India

In the previous couple of years, there was an alarming rise within the variety of circumstances the place puppies, canine, and cats have been burned alive, thrown from tall buildings, or crushed mercilessly. In truth, the Federation of Indian Animal Safety Organisations (FIAPO) in a 2023 report wrote that there have been 20,000 intentional and brutal crimes in opposition to animals within the final 10 years in India. This imply a mean of 5 stray animals are killed per day in a violent act.

What’s much more stunning is that the report states that the precise quantity might be at the least 10 occasions increased, which implies 50 animal deaths per day and a mean of two animals being senselessly killed each hour within the nation.

And if one appears to be like again on the newspapers previously two-three years, there have been some horrific circumstances which were reported. As an example, a canine was hanged to demise by two youths in Ghaziabad in November 2022. In September of the identical 12 months, a health care provider in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur tied a canine to his automotive and dragged it throughout town. And in March of 2016, a lady in Bengaluru flung eight puppies in opposition to a rock to kill them as a result of she didn’t need them in her road.

There’s additionally the appalling incident from Lucknow in April final 12 months. A whole canine household was subjected to unstated brutalities throughout the Lucknow College campus. A number of of the puppies had been poisoned whereas the mom was burnt so badly that she hardly had any pores and skin left.

And even simply final week, a pet was thrown from a high-rise constructing in Larger Noida onto the street, ensuing within the demise of the animal.

The ‘toothless’ legal guidelines coping with animal cruelty

The Thane incident and different such episodes have gotten many asking what are India’s legal guidelines on animal cruelty and if they’re efficient.

In truth, people who find themselves discovered to have dedicated such heinous crimes are charged underneath The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. This legislation happened because of the efforts of Rukmini Devi Arundale, the primary girl in India to be appointed to Rajya Sabha, who launched a non-public member’s Invoice on the matter.

The Act defines cruelty to animals –– together with acts of overburdening or overworking it, not offering the animal meals, water and shelter, mutilating or killing an animal, and so on. As per the laws, first-time offenders may be fined not lower than Rs 50 however not exceeding Rs 100. Within the case of a second or subsequent offence dedicated inside three years of the earlier offence, the wonderful shall not be lower than Rs 25 however may prolong to Rs 100 or with imprisonment for a time period which can prolong to a few months, or with each.

A name to vary the legislation

Animal welfare activists together with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a physique established underneath the 1960 Act, have, nevertheless, been calling for a change within the laws, terming it to be with none chunk.

In 2016, a gaggle of animal welfare organisations and activists got here collectively and began the #NoMore50 marketing campaign, urging the federal government of India to amend the 1960 Act to replace the penalties such that they function a deterrent. The quantity 50 is a reference to the ridiculously low wonderful that’s imposed as punishment underneath the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

A number of recognized names have joined this marketing campaign, together with actor Nagarjuna in addition to former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi.

Even the Supreme Courtroom in ‘Animal Welfare Board of India vs A Nagaraja & Others’ said that the 1960 Act must be amended to offer an efficient deterrent within the type of enough penalties and punishment.

In Parliament too, there have been non-public member payments proposing an modification to the 1960 Act. In September 2020, Kishanganj MP Mohammad Jawed launched a Invoice saying the punishment for cruelty in direction of animals ought to be a Rs 25,000 wonderful or imprisonment for a time period which can prolong as much as one 12 months or each, and within the case of a second or subsequent offence, the wonderful ought to be between Rs 50,000 and 1 lakh and imprisonment for a time period which shall not be lower than one 12 months however which can prolong to 2 years.”

And in 2022, the Centre drew up the Draft Prevention of Cruelty in opposition to Animals (Modification) Invoice, 2022 following discussions and deliberations with stakeholders. The amended laws included ‘bestiality’ as a criminal offense underneath the brand new class of ‘gruesome cruelty’ and outlined ugly cruelty as “an act that leads to extreme pain and suffering to the animals which may cause lifelong disability or death”.

The proposed legislation said, “Gruesome cruelty shall be punishable with a minimum fine of Rs 50,000 which may be extended up to Rs 75,000 or the cost may be decided by judicial magistrate in consultation with the jurisdictional veterinarians whichever is more or with the imprisonment of one year which may extend up to three years or with both.” It additional proposed a most five-year imprisonment, together with a wonderful, for killing an animal.

Nevertheless, it’s but to be tabled within the Parliament, with activists growing the strain on the Centre to desk it and go it.

Could also be when the legislation is handed and stricter punishments are put in place, will we not see and report such heinous and horrific crimes in opposition to animals in society.

With inputs from businesses