Serious lapses in functioning of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Report

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 28

A report submitted by the Animal Welfare Board of India has noticed serious lapses in the functioning of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Among other things, supervisors and field inspectors of the SPCA were found to be unqualified, unskilled or untrained for the positions they were holding, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has been told. The submissions before Justice Raj Mohan Singh’s Bench were made by Abhishek Bhateja in his petition filed through counsel Anurag Chopra and Himani Jamwal against the Union of India and other respondents.

As the case came up for preliminary hearing, Chopra submitted that the SPCA was a recognised and approved society by the Animal Welfare Board of India. A report was prepared by it after receiving numerous complaints regarding the condition in which animals were being kept in the society at Chandigarh. The report added that the managing body of the SPCA did not have two members of animal welfare organisations, who were actively involved in the work of prevention of cruelty to animals and the welfare of animals in the area. It was also noticed that the society had a chartered accountant, Prem Garg, as a member of a committee.

He had no background of the subject.

It was also noticed that there was no specialised section for animals needing special care. Only a room with solid flooring and no sunlight had been allotted to paralysed dogs and cats, "thereby increasing high mortality rate of blind dogs also". Referring to the report, Chopra added that the treatment was being provided by non-veterinarian staff of the shelter. Rather, surgeries were performed by them.

"The grievance of the petitioner is that the impugned orders, in the context of restricting the animal lovers from visiting at any time for taking care of ailing animals, have been passed without holding consultation with animal welfare organisations and other animal lovers/stakeholders, who have been actively involved in the welfare of animals," Justice Raj Mohan Singh added. Taking up the matter, Justice Raj Mohan Singh issued a notice of motion to the Centre and other respondents for November 30. A notice regarding a stay on the operation of the impugned order was also issued.

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