SC notice to Centre on plea for preventing cruelty to hen

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 29

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre seeking its response in a week to a petition seeking rules to prevent cruelty to egg-laying hen in poultry farms.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur passed the order on a petition by the Animal Welfare Board of India complaining about the absence of proper regulations for the purpose.

Hen were being kept in cages in a overcrowded condition without any room for even slight movement.

They were reared this way for their eggs. Over a period of time the hen became lame and were unable to even flutter when taken out for slaughter, senior counsel KK Venugopal pleaded.

The petitioner sought transfer of four PILs pending in high courts to the Supreme Court.

The Bench posted the next hearing for August 5.