Punjab and Haryana HC seeks status report on facilities by Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

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Chandigarh, July 13

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today called for the status report on the setting up of facilities by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in districts of Haryana.

For the purpose, the High Court has set July 26 as the deadline.

The direction by Justice Raj Mohan Singh came on a bunch of petitions seeking the allotment of adequate land and other facilities to the SPCA for constructing infirmaries and animal shelters in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Karnal, Ambala, Panipat, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Jhajjar, Jind, Kurukshetra, Mewat (Nuh), Palwal, Sirsa and Sonepat.

Taking up the petition filed by the MowgliAid Animal Welfare Society through counsel Anurag Chopra and Himani Jamwal, Justice Raj Mohan Singh also issued notice to the State of Haryana and other respondents.

Chopra contended in the petition that providing adequate land and other facilities to the SPCAs in the districts for constructing infirmaries and animal shelter was a requirement as per Rule 4(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Establishment and Regulation of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Rules, 2001. Also required was a full-time veterinary doctor and other staff for the effective running and maintenance of such infirmary or animal shelter.

Chopra added that nearly 20 years had elapsed since the rules were made. Yet the same had not been followed and implemented in their true letter and spirit by the government and the local authorities of the districts.