The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State government to indicate the measures taken in the State as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017.
The division bench of the High Court passed the order on a PIL filed by Bakul Narzary who drew the attention of the court to Rule 8 of the Rules of 2017 which have been framed by the Union government in terms of Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Rule 8 says, “The District Animal Market Monitoring Committee shall take steps to ensure that no animal market is organised in a place which is situated within twenty-five kilometers from any State border or which is situated within fifty kilometers from any international border.”
According to the High Court, the entire object and purpose of the present exercise is that animals which are culled for their meat should be treated more ethically, that wanton display of animal carcasses should be avoided and for a more hygienic and caring attitude to be taken to the animals.
“Despite the State lagging behind in several other fields, considering the natural beauty that the State has been bestowed with, the State may consider being the model in the country as regards ethical treatment of animals. If it appeals to the State, appropriate measures ought to be taken, not only to comply with the said Rules of 2017 but also to generally inculcate a culture of better treatment of animals, even if such animals are bred to be culled,” the High Court observed.
The court also made the Ministry of Animal Husbandry as a respondent in the case.
The next hearing on the matter will be held on August 17. The High Court has asked the State government to indicate the measures taken for setting up local bodies in terms of the Rules of 2017 at the next hearing.
The court also said that the input from the Ministry of Animal Husbandry may be called for after the State government’s initial response is received.
