Prashant Bhushan, on behalf of an NGO called Angel Trust, filed a petition in Supreme Court against rising animal cruelty. The petition demanded stricter laws to stop those who unleash cruelty on animals, and highlighted the role played by pet shops in increasing animal cruelty.
In the petition, it was said, “Some of the horror that go on in this illicit and unregulated trade include selling unweaned pups, drugging puppies to prevent them from crying, stuffing large birds in small cages, cutting their beaks with knives, de-clawing kittens etc.,”
In the petition, Prashant Bhushan included several examples of barbaric treatment of animals, including the infamous incident dated March 20, 2016 when a man was found brutally killing three stray dogs and a puppy right outside Green Park Metro station in New Delhi.
As per the petition, all culprits will go scot free due to “toothless legislation and lackadaisical enforcement” against pet cruelty in India. Prashant Bhushan, while arguing, said that there exists a maximum fine of Rs 50 for animal cruelty, and this should be immediately changed.
After hearing the arguments and going through the petition, the Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh has issued notice to Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Here is the petition which was filed by Prashant Bhushan and Angel Trust NGO: