In battery cages, egg-laying hens are suffocated, debeaked and injected with antibiotics. They also suffer from various diseases. Their only hope lies with the Delhi High Court, which will be hearing a case to frame rules to humanise their living conditions
THE EGG-laying hen is the most abused animal in India. From birth to death, these animals live in cages smaller than an A-4 size piece of paper. They don’t get to spread their wings, perch or exhibit any form of natural behaviour. Their lives are spent in these “battery cages”. These cages give the birds no room to move and they are stacked on top of one another. This heart-wrenching cruelty formed the basis of four public interest petitions, which were filed in the High Courts of Mumbai, Allahabad, Chandigarh and Telangana in 2014-15. These petitions sought the notification of Egg-Laying Hens Rules, 2012—formulated by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)—and called for a prohibition on the sale of eggs from “factory farms” which use these battery cages.
The cause of egg-laying hens found its way to the Supreme Court in July 2016 by way of a transfer petition, filed by the AWBI, seeking the hearing of these petitions by one forum. Moved by the shocking cruelty, the Supreme Court, on August 5, granted the transfer of the case to the Delhi High Court to “expedite the process of framing of the rules”. The case will be heard in December. This order marked the first step in India’s journey to secure the most basic protection to egg laying hens. The implementation of the rules will streamline litigation, and hopefully, accelerate the time taken to redress the wrongs that have been committed unchecked since time immemorial by the poultry industry.
Unchecked cruelty
This story is from the November 16, 2016 edition of Down To Earth.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 16, 2016 edition of Down To Earth.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
