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The Print
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Punjab assembly passes animal welfare bill to resume bullock cart racing. ‘Not cruelty,' says CM Mann
Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian introduced the bill saying that similar legislations have been brought about in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. He said the bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 was passed by the state assembly in 2019, which was then sent to the President by the governor. 'The President gave assent to the bill in 2024,' said the minister. Khudian said that bullock cart races are among the most popular sports in the Kila Raipur rural sports games which started in 1933. A 2019 Bill brought in by the then Congress government in the state that allowed the resumption of bullock cart races at the famous Kila Raipur Rural games in Ludhiana had received the assent of the President in September 2024. The bill passed by the assembly today widened the 2024 Act beyond Kila Raipur to include all rural games across the state. Chandigarh: The Punjab assembly Friday unanimously passed the 'The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025' to facilitate the resumption of bullock cart races in rural games across Punjab. The popular sport was banned in 2014 following a Supreme Court ruling. Speaking during the discussion on the bill, Chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that the animals used in the games were taken care of by the owners as if they were children. 'Specially crafted ornaments and decorations are bought to make them look beautiful. They are fed the best of feed and kept healthy,' said Mann, adding that it was wrong to say that these animals are subjected to cruelty. He said just as bullock cart races were banned in Punjab, the Jallikattu sport had been banned in Tamil Nadu. 'The ban on Jallikattu has been lifted. That, too, is a traditional sport involving bulls,' said the CM. Jallikattu is a bull-taming event held during pongal celebrations in Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister said that rural games have been an integral part of the culture of the state. He said that the bill aims at giving impetus to rural games, particularly bullock cart races and others which were held in every part of the state. Mann said cattle have been an integral part of the agrarian economy of the state and Punjabi farmers have always nurtured cattle as their children. 'Punjabis have always loved games like bullock cart race and the race at Kila Raipur was acclaimed the world over,' he said. He also said the bill will be instrumental in further popularising such games across the state in future without harming the animals. 'Special focus will be laid on protecting the animals and any sort of cruelty against them will not be allowed,' said the CM. The Chief Minister said that the main objective of this bill is to ensure safety measures for animals taking part in sports, with adequate animal veterinary supervision, safety standards, registration/documentation and penalty for violations. He that this bill will also help save indigenous cattle breeds of Punjab, besides promoting traditional sports in the villages. The bill will now be sent to the Governor for approval. The rules framed under the 2024 act have already been approved by the Punjab cabinet. 'Bullock cart races are nothing short of savagery' When contacted Ambika Shukla, a trustee with People for Animals (PFA), told ThePrint that holding bullock cart races was nothing short of 'savagery'. 'It belittles us as a society. It reduces us as human beings,' she said. 'How can bullock cart races be called a sport? A sport involves voluntary participation and contest between competing equals where skill, endurance and strength is tested. These races and nothing but a test of torture. These involve hitting, beating and other forms of torture to make the bull run. Bulls, and for that matter all cattle, are not animals which can run fast. They are slow moving animals and to make them run, all sorts of cruelty is undertaken. So many of them die, if not on the day of a race, then subsequently,' added Shukla. 'Just because as human beings we have the upper hand, do we have to bring it down so heavily and cruelly on animals? Our hand should be that of a benevolent, kind caretaker,' she further said. Previous such bills In May 2023, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the amendments made by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 that permitted Jallikattu and Kambala and bullock-cart races. The five-judge Bench of the apex court had overruled a judgment of a two-judge SC Bench in 2014. The 2014 judgement had banned the Jallikattu events and all bullock cart races. In 2017, the Tamil Nadu government passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act that permitted the sport, while introducing rules to govern the practice including banning use of force, whips, etc., during the conduct of the sport. The Act was challenged in the Supreme Court by bodies working towards prevention of cruelty towards animals. The petitions were referred to a five judge bench in 2018. Addressing a press conference following the end of the assembly's proceedings for the day, Mann said his government had restored the glory of a traditional event. 'The bullock cart races are among the most popular events in rural games. These are not limited to Kila Raipur alone,' said Mann. He met some bullock cart owners outside the assembly who had come to thank him. BJP leader Jaiveer Shergill who met Union Ministers Hardeep Puri last year and Anurag Thakur in 2023 for the resumption of bullock cart races, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring that the 2019 Bill gets the Presidents' assent in 2024. 'Thanks to the efforts of the PM @narendramodi Govt, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 received Presidential assent in 2024 paving the way for bullock cart races in Kila Raipur heritage games. Today, the Punjab Govt has moved the 2025 Amendment Bill to allow bullock cart races across the state—a welcome step! Urge the Punjab Govt to ensure that all rural sports, including greyhound racing are regulated transparently and allowed without arbitrary administrative hurdles. Rural games are the heartbeat of Punjab—they deserve protection, not obstruction!' Shergill wrote on X. Thanks to the efforts of the PM @narendramodi Govt, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 received Presidential assent in 2024 paving the way for bullock cart races in Kila Raipur heritage games. Today, the Punjab Govt has moved the 2025 Amendment… — Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) July 11, 2025 (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: 'Won't disrupt legislature view': Supreme Court upholds bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu'
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Air India crash report expected soon: Govt's new demolition rules to target buildings & trees near airports; details here
With the Air India crash investigation report expected soon, attention has turned to the government's fresh regulatory steps aimed at improving airport safety. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has released a set of new draft rules to address long-standing concerns about obstructions like buildings and trees near airports. The Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions Caused by Buildings and Trees, etc.) Rules, 2025, were published on June 18, 2025, under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, and are open to public comment for 21 days. What's new in the proposed rules? These new Draft Rules are set to replace the 1994 Rules, which allowed the Deputy or Joint Director General of Civil Aviation to order the removal of height violations. Under the older framework, aggrieved individuals could appeal the order, and non-compliance meant the District Collector could step in. The 2025 Draft Rules propose faster and more enforceable actions. Officials will be authorised to issue notices, carry out daytime inspections, and order demolition of non-compliant structures. Property owners will have 60 days to submit structural documents, and action can be taken if safety norms are breached. Importantly, only those who comply will be eligible for compensation under Section 22 of the 2024 Act. Unauthorized structures built after the notification date won't qualify. The Investigation report yet to be made public on Friday about the cause of Air India crash is focusing on the movement of the engine fuel control switches. The co-pilot mistakenly cut off fuel supply to one of the engines and the Captain activated Auto pilot mode at a wrong altd Concerns over due process and consultation time While the rules aim to strengthen aviation safety, they have been criticised for not including procedural safeguards mandated by the Supreme Court in demolition-related matters. The short 21-day window for public feedback has also raised concerns about the reactive nature of the policy process. Why proactive regulation is critical The crash of the Air India flight in Ahmedabad has once again highlighted how aviation regulations are often reactive. A historical example—the US President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism in 1990 criticised American aviation regulators for waiting for tragedies before acting. The same risk exists here. Aviation rules must be grounded in research, account for technological developments, and include transparency through public consultation. As the upcoming crash report may reveal more gaps, this framework must be built with resilience and adaptability in draft rules are a step forward, but lasting change will need foresight, public trust, and evidence-based regulation beyond crisis response.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Air India crash expected soon: Govt's new demolition rules to target buildings & trees near airports spark debate; details here
With the Air India crash investigation report expected soon, attention has turned to the government's fresh regulatory steps aimed at improving airport safety. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has released a set of new draft rules to address long-standing concerns about obstructions like buildings and trees near airports. The Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions Caused by Buildings and Trees, etc.) Rules, 2025, were published on June 18, 2025, under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, and are open to public comment for 21 days. What's new in the proposed rules? These new Draft Rules are set to replace the 1994 Rules, which allowed the Deputy or Joint Director General of Civil Aviation to order the removal of height violations. Under the older framework, aggrieved individuals could appeal the order, and non-compliance meant the District Collector could step in. The 2025 Draft Rules propose faster and more enforceable actions. Officials will be authorised to issue notices, carry out daytime inspections, and order demolition of non-compliant structures. Property owners will have 60 days to submit structural documents, and action can be taken if safety norms are breached. Importantly, only those who comply will be eligible for compensation under Section 22 of the 2024 Act. Unauthorized structures built after the notification date won't qualify. Concerns over due process and consultation time While the rules aim to strengthen aviation safety, they have been criticised for not including procedural safeguards mandated by the Supreme Court in demolition-related matters. The short 21-day window for public feedback has also raised concerns about the reactive nature of the policy process. Why proactive regulation is critical The crash of the Air India flight in Ahmedabad has once again highlighted how aviation regulations are often reactive. A historical example—the US President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism in 1990 criticised American aviation regulators for waiting for tragedies before acting. The same risk exists here. Aviation rules must be grounded in research, account for technological developments, and include transparency through public consultation. As the upcoming crash report may reveal more gaps, this framework must be built with resilience and adaptability in draft rules are a step forward, but lasting change will need foresight, public trust, and evidence-based regulation beyond crisis response.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Before Air India crash report comes, we must look into the new aviation rules
Written by Lakshita Handa and Pragya Singh In light of the tragic flight crash in Ahmedabad earlier last month – the Air India crash report is about to come — the issue of infrastructural safety in and around airports has once again been brought to the fore. While the crash has raised larger questions of aeroplane safety protocol and technical compliance, it serves as an important reminder to decongest and remove physical obstructions near airports. In light of this, the Civil Aviation Ministry has put out the Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions Caused by Buildings and Trees, etc.) Rules, 2025, in the public domain for comments. These Draft Rules, notified on June 18, 2025, under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 (2024 Act), are currently open to public comments for a 21-day period. Notably, the Draft Rules replace the Aircraft (Demolition of obstructions caused by Buildings and Trees, etc.) Rules, 1994 (1994 Rules), which were also formulated to address the issue of obstruction in aerodrome areas. The 1994 Rules empowered a Joint Director General or a Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation to order the demolition of a building or the cutting of a tree, particularly where such a building or tree exceeded the stipulated height. The 1994 Rules allowed an aggrieved person, affected by such an order, to make an appeal to the Director General of Civil Aviation, whilst placing an obligation on the concerned person to comply with the order within a 60-day period. They also stated that in the event of a failure to comply with the order, the requisite action could be carried out by the District Collector. In contrast to the 1994 Rules, the Draft Rules enable authorities to take prompt action against buildings or structures that exceed the prescribed height in designated aerodrome zones. This includes empowering officers with the legal authority to issue notices, conduct physical on-site verifications during daylight hours and escalate non-compliant structures for demolition. Under the Rules, owners notified to modify or demolish their structures will be required to submit structural details within 60 days. Where such a building, tree or structure is found to violate safety norms, the Director General of Civil Aviation may order its demolition, trimming or reduction in height. All in all, the process will mirror the process used for removing unauthorised constructions. It is further clarified that compensation under Section 22 of the 2024 Act will only be available to those who comply with official orders. However, any unauthorised structures constructed after the notification date will not be entitled to such compensation. Despite the significant impact that such Draft Rules will have on the infrastructure surrounding the airports across the country, they do not factor in guidelines pertaining to due process, notice and show cause laid down by the Supreme Court of India in In Re: Directions in the matter of demolition of structures. The short period of 21 days for receiving public comments on the Draft Rules also signifies a reactive tilt to the policy-making process. The US President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism, in their 1990 report, harshly criticised the Federal Aviation Administration for being 'far too reactive to problems instead of anticipating them'. The field of civil aviation is particularly susceptible to a model of regulation driven by crises. However, any regulation in this field has the capacity to affect human lives on a massive scale, as well as have enormous economic repercussions for the State. Civil aviation policies should be drafted based on meticulous research and be adaptable. Factors such as risk and safety management, technological advancements, sustainability, public health, security and international standards should be accounted for in the policy-making process. As these policies have a considerable impact on the public, thorough public consultation at various stages of drafting should be undertaken to maintain transparency. Lastly, the policies should have resilience as their core metric to ensure that the laws and regulations drafted not only address the issues based on the evidence of the past but can also be future-facing and dynamic. Whatever the Air India crash report might indicate, this should be the objective. The authors are Senior Resident Fellows at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. Views are personal
