Delhi HC Allows FIAPO and PETA to be Part of Survey of Circuses Conducted by AWBI

The Delhi High Court has today allowed the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organization (FIAPO) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal (PETA) to be a part of the physical survey conducted as directed by the Delhi HC to Animal Welfare Board of India.

A divisional bench of Delhi HC comprising Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar while hearing the matter through video conferencing stated that the two organizations and the government are open to provide medicine, food, and nourishment to the animals found ill or malnutrition by the board.

The petition has been filed by the Federation for Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) seeking directions to rescue the animals in circuses amid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and further challenging section 21- 27 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 alleging that they permit exhibition and training of animals with regards to circuses, seeking a ban on the use of animals in circuses.

Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Advocate Aman Hingorani appearing for FIAPO and PETA respectively submitted that they should be allowed to be a part of the survey.

Whereas, Advocate Kartik Jayashankar, counsel appearing for Great Bombay Circus and Jumbo Circus submitted that we are keeping the animals properly and the same can be seen through photographs. He stated that “The officials of these organisations come with a preconceived notion and there is an atmosphere of hostility when they come. They come and take away the animals on the pretext that they require private care and treatment. We have our own veterinarians who treat the animals in the circus itself.”

Read Also: Review petition against dismissed order on subsidies rejected by Delhi HC

The bench has further directed the central government to file its reply within 3 weeks and has listed the matter on September 29.

-India Legal Bureau