Overview of Animal Laws ‘Sal Author: Tarun Kavu + Placeof Publication: —Wichigan State University Collegeof Law + PublishYear: 2020 + Lastupdated: 2020 + Primary Citation: Animal Lege &Hiscorical Center Country of Origin: India “Summary This ace summarizes animal protection ans inna. |. Introduction India, the seventh largest country nthe wort sone of the most bo-dverseregionsof the workicontalningfourof ‘Table of Contents ‘the worl’s 36 bieaversty hotspots. Is home to animals ranging rom the Benga Tigersto the Great tein Rhinoceros and animal protection and welfare nin the county has taken prominent position over therecent years. m7 Protection of animals enshrined aso fundamental duty in theIndlan Constitution anc there exist several animal Tee \welfre leasltion in Indie suchas the Prevention of Crucity to Animals Act 1960 and the Widfe Protection Act atanisasvar ears erent oa 197291 tne Cental evel ana cattle protectin snd cow slaughter protbition egstationsst the State levels. 1 The Prevention! Cusityn Animals ‘Tre Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860's the oficial criminal code of India which covers allsubstentive aspects of criminal Jaw Section 428 2nd 429 0 the IPC provides for punishment of all acs of cruity suchas kiling pooning.maimingor ‘cb 260 rendering useless of animals. The aforementioned legislations have been enacted cbviate unnecessary pain and oe sufferingof animals and similar legistations continue to be enacted according to changing circumstances "Notwithstondingspecii statutes further protections for animals lc under generat concepts sucha tort aw, constitutional lame. Towstase I The Constitution of India 1960 ‘The Conetittonof Ins 1960 makes the cuty of every ctlzen of nat protect an inprave the natura environment Inlicng fore lakes hers and lle ant have compassion oral ving creatures" Ths Gorsittiona uty of anima protections supplemented by the Directive Principle of State Poieyunder Article 40 that: The tateshallendeavor to protect endinprovete envionment andt sfeguar the forests and whi of the county. ‘ath the above constitutional provision were intraducedby the 42nd Amendment in 1976 While they are not direct enforceable in dan courts they lay down the groundwork for loglations policies ad stat ectives in furtherance animal protection atthe Certraland State evel. Moreover, they maybe enforced incourtsby ‘aldngan expansive ja interretation are bringin them within the ambit thefundamental igh to Life an Lberty under Article 21 which sual enforceable Tonatease IIL Sources of Law Toe primary sources cf aw in inaiaare the Costution statutes legisaton) customary land cas laws ndls 2 federal union dvided into 28 States and8 Union Tertrles. Therespctve States are aminsteredby thelr oun Stat governments wil the Union Territoire federal terstries drety govern the cetral Government fia. The Pardament ef Inia iste supreme legate Body othe country while nen States have cher respective Stat Legiatres, Statutes are enacted bythe Parament fr the entre country. bythe State lgislaturesfor respective State and bythe Union Territory esate or respective Union Teriteries Centrallaws enacted bythe Parlmentcan be checked and controlled ontyby the Constutioncf ina Statelawe maybe ovrraden, !nsdttlon to these primary legations, tere sso et vast ody of subordinate lesson ke rules, regulations and by lus enaced by Central/Sate governments ana loca authortes such s municipal corporations ana gvam parchayas(locl village bases). Given the separation of powersinndiabetween the Lgiatue, Executive ae Jiccary ranches ct gvecnment ne tees branche are vest th dferent uncon While the primaryrespeniley of rating leplatons lee withthe este, Sometimes the responsibilty Is iven tothe Executive branch inorder tcf leglatons knowns delegated legato, Inala flows the common system basecon recorded judicial precedents handed down by the rts colony. Terefre It places significant reliance on precedents and case sin the development flaw are jurisprudence. utc decsons of higher courts suchas theSupreme Courtof Ins aré High Courts of diferent tates cary signincant legal weight andre binding on lower courts. Indias anf wide religous and cultural diversity. Therefore some personal avs locl customs. eliglous texts and conventions which are not against statute moray. public pole ans larger socal welfare are also recognized to havea lgal character ac are taken nt account by courts inthe administration of juste, ooatease III. Allocation of Powers between the Centre and the States ‘tile 245 of the Indian Constitution holdsthat subject to the Consttution the Iran Parlarentcan make ans for the whole or part of territory of Inia Territory fia ‘article 246 ays dona te subjectsmater ols made by theParlament ante tate Leyslatutes. This subject-matter locate nt thee sts contained inthe Seventh Schedule 1. The UnionListhe Parlsmenthasexcsive poner to make laws with respect to the mattersenumerated within hii 2 The tates State Legislatures have the oxcsive power tomaka laws wien cespect 10 thematers enumerated within st ‘8. Concurrent List both thePalament and State Legisltureshavethe pover to make ans with especto the matters enumerated within hist. Inthe context of arimarihts the following mattershave been allocate inthe State an Concurrent List tem 14 ofthe State List provides thatthe Stateshave the power to preserve protect ae improve sock are prevent animal leases and enforce veterinary traningand practic: nthe Concurrent Lt both the Centre anche States have the sowertoleglat ont {Litem 17 "Prevention or ervey toanimals? 2 tam 378: "Protcton of wd ania an bid Tnnafasce IV. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 Toa basiceraty aw of nds contained Inthe Prevention of Crusty to Animals Act 1960, The obectivo he Act sto prevent he infltion of unnecessary pln or suffering onanimals ane to aren the ans reltingt the prevention ofcroelty to animals. The Act efnes‘enimaf asanyvngcteature other than ahurman bel Insccordance th Chapter lof the Act. he Government of ninestabshed the Animal Welfare Board af India (AWE thsomeof he followin functions 4. ising the central goveramant regarding amenvments and ust prevent unnecessary pan ve tranepoting animal performing expernent on animal of storing nial captive, 2 Encouragement of financial assistance rescuehomes and animal shelters for ol animals {.Advisingthe sovernment on medical careand regulation for arimal hospitals “imparting education and anarenesson humane treatment of animals ‘5: Advising the central goveramentregarlng general matters of animal welfare. ‘The Act enumerates diferent variants of rut to animals under Section 11.35 the fllwing actions Beating Kicking. overriding overoacng torturing and causing unnecessary pals toany aria, 1) Using an old injured or unfit animal fr work the punishment applies tothe owner as wellas these) ©) Acinssteringan urousdrugmeccine to any aos €) Carrying an arimalin any vehicle na way that causes iepalnanscomfort ©) Keeping any animalnacage where it doesnt have reasonable opportunity of movement. ‘Keeping an animalon an unreasonably heavy or short chaln for an unreasonable period of tne, .)Kping on anima ttl andhacitual confinement wth no resonable opportunity to exer. Beng an over algo provide the aint wit umcient re, dink or sheet 1 Abandoning an animal without reasonebeceuse | Yay permiting an owned arimaltoroamonstrests or leatng ton the streets to aloof esc, old age orca. Offering orsaleanenimalwhichssufterng pln dueto mutton, starvation test overcrowelngor other ik-reatment. )Mutiating or kiting animal through crue mannerssuchas sng strychnine nections ‘nl Usingan animalasbalt for another animal oe fr entertainment } Organizing keep. using or managing anyplace for anima fighting. ©) Shaatig an anal when iterated rom capt or such purpose However the Act does nt consider as cry the dor ingcastation of atin the prescribed manne, destruction stray dogs in thal chambers a prescribed manner and extermination ofan anil under the autho of la. This Section provides Somewhat of leeway. Part Vf the Act covers Experimentation of animals. The Act doesnot render unisul experimentation on armas forthe purpose of advancement bynewescovery of piysclgical knowledge cr knowledgeto combat csease, nether a human beings, armas plants It envisages thecreationotaComuitt for contol and supervision of ‘periments on animals the central goverament whicheven has the power ta prohibit expernentation io raquied, (Chapter V covers the area of performinganinals, Section 2 profits exiting or traning an animal without estratin wth the AWBI.The Section prot enimals uch ss monkey, bars, los. tgers. panthers and bul ron belngurlized as performing animal. ‘bn ational leeway provide bythe Acts that under Section 28 nothing corsinesin the Act Shall ender it an offence to kllanysnimalin manner raqireaby he pin of any community CConsserngthecversy of eligons an trations i Inda ths Section was consicered imperative “Treating animals crys punshabie wth ane RS. 20 which may extend to Rs. S00 rst conviton. On subsequent conviction within tvee years aprevous offence. Ispunishablewith fine of Rs. 25 which may extend to Rs 100 or iprisonment af tree oaths or with both Performing operations ike Phocka rary other cperations to Improvelacatlon whichis iris to thehealth ofthe animal spunksable wth fre of Rs, 1000 oF imprisonment up {02 years oF both. The goverment further asthe ower to forfeit seize or destroy the arma Cortravetion of any order ofthe committee regarding experimentation on aimalsis punishable with fine up to Rs 200. Tonatease \V.Conclusion ‘Te 42nd Amenamenttothetdien Constitution in 1976s progressive sep tonardslayg te groundwork for animal protectin in nla The constitutional provisions stablchingthe cut farms pretection have resute inthe enactment of animal protection eiltions both atthe centaland state level most notable of which being the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. Furthermore, ver the yeas Ilan courts have developed a growing lal rsprudencein ail ave However there east along ways to go Intruly veloping 0k foundston fr animal lawin inca. The provetons or anim protection nthe nan Conetttlon realy rinciples instead of concrete law enforceable ncourts. The pelts under the Prevention of Cruety to Animals Act 1940 fr cruelty against arimalsare simply not strict ‘hough ttruty deter eres gait animal. Tell notre eniored and contains several provins which rowley through which ably canbe escape. Extersve reforms eet take place in this regardt provide a stronger animal protection lan for in