Animal cruelty may soon attract a fine of Rs 75,000 and 5 years of jail; Gets applauded by people

'If you can't love the animal, don't hurt' one as simple as it sounds not many understand the sensitivity of this sentence.

Over the years, animals have fallen prey to heinous crimes, cruelty, and torture by human beings.

The speechless animals can't speak for themselves but, the law will soon become their voice.

 

The rate of inhuman crimes and cruelty against animals is increasing rapidly in the country.

Many animal activists and lovers breathed a sigh of relief after the government prepared a new draft.

 

The draft is proposed to amend the 60-year-old law proposing a penalty of Rs 75,000 or three times the cost of the animal with a jail term of up to 5 years or both towards an individual or an organisation that leads to an animal's death.

There have been a series of inhuman crimes and cruelty committed against animals in the last few months.  

 

These cruel incidents attracted anger amid the public and invited major backlash on social media handles against the government. 

Whether it's an incident of an elephant eating pineapple with a firecracker or a cow being shot and killed by a man.

 

These incidents did not go down well with the public.

 

Yashodhara, who runs a kennel and love dogs and all kind of animals finds it a striking move, while sharing her thoughts she said, "Education does not seem to educate the people in a right sense to not to commit animal cruelty. Stricter laws are the need of the hour. By paying a  fine of a mere Rs 50 was a joke, and people won't understand its sensitivity until the fine pinches their pockets."

The draft proposed offences in three categories- minor injury, major injury leading to permanent disability, and death of an animal due to cruel practice.

 

The penalties are prescribed ranging from Rs 750- Rs 75,000 and a jail term up to five years for different crimes.

Priya Chetty Rajgopal, managing Trustee of CJ Memorial Trust feels that the animal lovers and activists had waited long for a better law to come in force and she is very optimistic about this draft, "I am highly looking forward to the implementation of the law as soon as possible. Bringing a law won't do any good until it's properly brought into the force. The detailing and implementation must be taken care of. We have animal welfare boards and organisations in Karnataka, but we need a better system overall so these heinous crimes against the speechless animals can be prevented at all cost."

Agreeing on the same, Sanjana Madappa, Head Adoption counselor at rehabilitation said that, the previous amount charged was very little and Rs 75,000 fine, jail term was much needed, "It's a step towards the positive direction we cannot wait for the law to come into the force. Now people will not take the life and welfare of animals casually and will be more careful towards animals, pets or stray."

Rajya Sabha member, Rajeev Chandrashekhar questioned regarding the term and provision of the act while mentioning the cruel incident of an elephant eating pineapple with a firecracker in Kerala.

As per the report, more stringent penalties have been taken into consideration by the government. 

 

The draft amendment worked out includes increasing monetary penalties and punishment provisions.

As per the report the draft amendment also provides for making offences of cruelty against animals cognizable and making state animal welfare boards a statutory body.

Rashmi Mukherjee, who owns a boxer dog feels that this draft was long due but also a strict law should come for owners and people who abandon their dogs, "This draft is the need of the hour and we cannot wait for the draft to become a full-fledged law. But what about the owners who shamelessly abandon their dogs on the streets after getting ill. A law for this should also be made so people do not leave their dogs untreated."

 

Reports say that the work is in progress regarding the draft and it will be put out in the public domain, seeking comments and responses from the stakeholders, general public, and experts.

The law will be finalised only after analysing the comments.

 

Many cases about animal cruelty were pending in the country and it will be an appreciable move for the animal's protection.

Akshata Khanna who owns a Labrador said, "I am very happy to hear the news about the draft. Finally, the cruelty act will be amended, and a better law will be established. I don't understand the sick mentality of people who hurt animals, laws should hurt them too."