The Punjab and Haryana High Court has recently disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by a practicing advocate, praying for directions to the Municipal Corporation, Union Territory of Chandigarh, to adopt and implement the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
During the course of arguments, it was revealed that the petitioner was satisfied with the contents of the Central Rule, but contended that the draft rules being framed by the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, fell short of the minimum standard to ensure well-being of animals.
The counsel for the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, assured a Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal that the draft by-laws would be notified soon and that all contentions of the petitioner would be considered before finalization.
The Court observed that Rule 22 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, provided that if local rules or by-laws fell short of the standards prescribed under the Central Rule, the provisions of the Central Rule would prevail.
The Court deemed it appropriate to dispose of the petition with a direction to the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, to consider the petitioner’s representation for suggesting improvements in the draft by-laws before finalizing and notifying them.