Tripura High Court: Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act Needs to be Scrupulously Implemented

The petitioner submitted before the court that the direction may be issued to the respondent-authorities to ensure that in future strict compliance of the provisions of the Act of 1960 and the Rules framed thereunder be carried out in matters of seizure and release of such seized animals.

The Tripura High Court in the case Ms. Paramita Sen v. The State of Tripura & Ors observed and has remarked that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, Rules framed thereunder and the guidelines issued from time to time by the statutory authorities do need to be observed scrupulously at all levels by the concerned State authorities.

The Division bench comprising of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Biswajit Palit was hearing the present matter.

The bench in the case directed the State authorities to ensure that such guidelines be once again circulated to the officers in the field so that cases of non-compliance of the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (Act of 1960) and Rules framed thereunder by the officers at the ground level are not repeated again.

In the present matter, the court was hearing the Public Interest Litigation, PIL filed by an Advocate and an animal right activist working in the field of animal welfare activities as a member of the NGO, 'Society for Welfare of Animal and Nature, SWAN'.