Latest news with #ThePreventionofCrueltytoAnimalsAct
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Feeding stray dogs: how law balances questions of compassion & public order
The Supreme Court observed this week that citizens who wished to feed stray dogs should consider doing so inside their own homes. The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta were hearing an appeal filed by a Noida resident who had been allegedly harassed for feeding stray dogs in the common areas of her housing society. The strongly polarising issue of feeding community dogs has frequently led to litigation over the years. Courts have weighed in on questions of constitutional protections, local governance, and claims over shared civic spaces. The president of the Residents' Welfare Association of the petitioner's society had allegedly broken some pots in which she had kept water for stray animals, harassed her, and killed 10 sterilised stray dogs. Local authorities had taken no action on her complaints, and had instead asked her to not place the pots again. The woman had then approached Allahabad High Court, which had dismissed her petition in the interest of the 'common man'. The court had said that the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (ABC Rules) did warrant the protection of street dogs, but 'the authorities will have to bear in mind the concern of common man, such that their movement on streets are not hampered by attacks by these street dogs'. The ABC Rules, 2023, notified under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, seek to control stray dog populations through sterilisation, and to curb the spread of rabies by vaccinating them. The Rules lay down protocols to ensure that the feeding of dogs respects both animal welfare and public safety. The ABC Rules, which replaced the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001, use the expression 'community animals' instead of 'stray dogs' — recognising that these dogs are not ownerless intruders but territorial beings that inhabit and belong to their local environments. The Supreme Court has interpreted the constitutionally guaranteed right to life and liberty as extending to animals as well. In its verdict in the 2014 Jallikattu case, the top court held that animal life falls within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution (Animal Welfare Board of India vs A. Nagaraja). Also, Article 51A(g) places a fundamental duty on citizens 'to have compassion for living creatures'. All this means that the presence of dogs in residential areas cannot automatically be considered unlawful. Nor can those who feed them be considered offenders unless their actions violate specific behavioural and spatial guidelines set by the law. Rule 20 of the ABC Rules, 2023 ('Feeding of Community Animals') states that 'it shall be responsibility of the Resident Welfare Association or Apartment Owner Association or Local Body's representative… to make necessary arrangement for feeding of community animals' if someone living in that area 'feeds or provides care to street animals as a compassionate gesture'. The Rule states that the feeding locations must be away from high-footfall areas like staircases, building entrances, and children's play areas. The designated spaces must be kept clean and litter-free, and community dogs should be fed at an appointed time. The Rule also lays down a dispute resolution mechanism involving the chief veterinary officer, representatives of the police, the district Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, organisations conducting animal birth control, and the RWA. The big picture is that dogs have a right to be fed, but this must be done in ways that minimise disruption to shared social spaces. The Rules try to strike a balance between compassion and public order. In March 2023, the Bombay High Court in Sharmila Sankar & Ors v. Union of India ruled in favour of residents who had faced opposition from their housing societies for feeding dogs. The court said that RWAs and societies cannot restrict the feeding of community animals or threaten or penalise individuals who do so. The court affirmed that the ABC Rules have 'the force of law'.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
67-yr-old man arrested for ‘sexually assaulting' female dog in Arvi
Wardha: The Arvi police on Tuesday arrested a 67-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting a stray female dog in Dhanodi (Nandpur) village in Arvi tehsil. The incident occurred at a secluded spot behind a tree in the village on Monday evening. A local youth, Manish Patil, who is affiliated with the People for Animals (PFA) organization, had captured the accused, identified as Bhanudas Raut, a resident of Dhanodi (Nandpur), committing the act, said Arvi police. Patil alerted other members of PFA, who then apprehended Raut and handed him over to the Arvi police. Following preliminary investigation, police registered offences against Raut under Section 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to an animal) and Section 296 (obscene acts in public) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as Section 11(1)(a) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and Section 119 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951. The incident sparked outrage among local residents and animal rights activists, who are calling for stronger implementation of animal protection laws and awareness about crimes against animals. Ashish Goswami, a senior representative of PFA, said, "This is not merely an act of cruelty, it is a heinous crime that must be treated with the seriousness it deserves. We urge the authorities to invoke the strictest provisions of the law and ensure justice is served swiftly," he said. A medical examination of the animal is also being arranged in coordination with veterinary authorities. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Indian Express
Delhi man kills neighbour's Husky pup by flinging from staircase of apartment
A man in Delhi has been booked for killing a Husky pup of his landlord by flinging it from the staircase balcony of the apartment, alleging that it had bitten his newborn, the police said on Friday. According to the police, the incident took place on the night of April 19, when the pup's owner, Jitender Nagpal, was away at work in Loni. The golden and black Husky named Cherry ran out of the house when Nagpal's son opened the door for the laundry worker. Cherry ran upstairs while Nagpal's son collected the clothes and paid the man. 'The laundry man told my son that Cherry was on the third floor where my tenant Ravi Gupta lives with his family,' recalled Nagpal. According to the First Information Report, Gupta violently flung the pup out of the building from the staircase landing's balcony when Nagpal's son ascended to the third floor to take Cherry back. Cherry was unconscious when Nagpal's son reached her, the FIR stated. The police booked Gupta under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. 'They took him in for questioning, and he told the police that Cherry had bitten his newborn son. How could she have done that? She didn't even have time to enter his house,' said Nagpal. Nagpal alleged that Gupta had taken Cherry to play with his daughter a few days back and had faced no issues then. Nagpal, who adopted Cherry in early March from an acquaintance, said, his children have been unable to get over their grief and trauma. 'My children have been crying since the incident. Cherry was closest to them. They couldn't eat or sleep all night after she died,' said Nagpal. Nagpal said not much action could be taken against Gupta as the laws he's been booked under are bailable offences. 'He (Gupta) was also let go by the police after a few hours. Cherry was like my daughter.' 'My children are my life. If they're happy, I'm happy. Hence, I agreed to their request to buy a pet dog,' Nagpal recalled. Despite Gupta being his tenant, Nagpal said he was unable to evict Gupta from their house because Gupta's family has been living at their in-laws' house in Burari for quite some time.
