Conduct survey of all unlicensed circuses in India: Delhi High Court to Animal Welfare Board

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Animal Welfare Board of Indian (AWBI) to conduct a survey of all circuses whose registrations are not complete, and report the status of the animals in these circuses [People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) v Union of India and Ors]..The direction came from a Division Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh during the hearing of a batch of petitions dealing with the status of animals in various circuses across the country after they were closed down, and those that do not have proper permissions..The Bench noted that merely writing letters to the police officials of states and handing them names of circuses is insufficient, and nothing more than a paper exercise.The Court said that the volunteers of the State Legal Services Authorities as well as organisations like the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Animals (FIAPO) will accompany the officials of the AWBI during these surveys.“The Animal Welfare Board of India should also take up the issue with the local police and magistrate wherever and whenever it comes to knowledge that any unlicensed circus or any other person or organisation is holding an animal unauthorisedly so that the animal could be seized and taken care of in custody of either the local zoo or in coordination with the petitioners,” the Court has ordered..Counsel appearing for PETA Advocate Aman Hingorani informed the Court that though the draft Performing Animals (Registration) (Amendment) Rules, 2018 were framed more than three years ago, they are yet to be notified.These Rules were supposed to be enacted under Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to regulate the upkeep of animals used as performing animals in circuses.Counsel appearing for the Central government submitted that the process of consultation has been undertaken, and that views of several stakeholders have also been invited.The judges therefore directed the Central government to file an affidavit in this regard and requested it to consider notifying the Rules without any delay, keeping in mind the well-being of the animals.The matter will now be taken up for hearing on July 21.