Delhi High Court Directs Centre To Comply With Law While Transporting Camels For Participation In Republic Day Parade

The Delhi High Court has directed the Central Government to ensure strict compliance of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 as well as the amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (The Transport of Animals) Rules, 2020 while transporting camels to the city for the purpose of their participation in Republic Day Parade.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad also directed the Animal Welfare Board of India, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways as well as the Border Security Force to ensure strict compliance of the SOP read with the Rules governing the field in the matter of transport of camels.

The Court thus disposed of a PIL filed by a trust namely Scouts and Guides for Animals and Birds alleging transportation of camels into the city from the State of Rajasthan in violation of the statutory provisions as contained under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

The petitioner trust had stated that every year during the Independence Day Parade, large number of camels are transported in goods carrier subjecting them to cruelty and that despite submitting various representations from time to time to various authorities, they have not been looked into.

It was claimed that almost 100 camels are brought every year in goods transport vehicles to Delhi violating the statutory provisions.

As per the affidavit filed by AWBI, it was stated that Centre had the law making it mandatory that transportation of Animals by Rail or Road must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate that they are fit to travel.

The Centre's counsel told the Court that the transportation of camels was taking place as per the statutory provisions and that it will be ensured that no violation of any statutory provision takes place in respect of the transportation of camels.

"In the light of the aforesaid status report, as the respondents have been taking all care and precaution in transporting the camels and are also following the statutory provisions, this Court is of the considered opinion that no further orders are required to be passed in the present PIL," the Court ordered.

It added "Any deviation in the matter of transport of camels shall be viewed seriously by this Court. In case the SOP or any statutory provision is violated in future while transporting the camels, the petitioner shall certainly be free to bring the same to the notice of this Court."

Title: SCOUTS AND GUIDES FOR ANIMALS AND BIRDS v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Del) 839

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