Chennai HC Makes History, Orders Animal Abusers And Police To Report To Court

While addressing the High Court on a petition filed by Antony Clement Rubin - an honorary animal welfare officer of the Animal Welfare Board of India - against the bail granted to the two MBBS students by a lesser court, Justice PN Prakash "queried the possibility of proceeding against the accused under any other act apart from the PCA, 1960 and the Indian Penal Code," Rubin told Indiatimes.

At the end of the hearing Justice Prakash issued a notice to the state police as well as the two accused to appear in court again in two weeks for the next hearing.

Rubin says, "This is the first time that the case was filed by civilians without the aid of charities. Animal abuse can end only if people unite against it instead of waiting for NGOs and other bodies to manage the situation."

Facebook/Antony Rubin

While Bhadra and her friends celebrate the first step towards better laws against animal abuse in the country, the conversation around the same intensifies in Hyderabad where five boys were held by the police for throwing three live puppies into a fire, making a video of it and circulating it. Alokparna Sengupta, Deputy Director of HSI/India, says, "The amendment to the 1960 ACt, in the form of the Animal Welfare Bill has been proposed by the AwBI to the MOEFCC. The ministry now needs to look into it, vet it, get approval from cabinet and then propose it to the lok sabha and rajya sabha where upon passing it. The bill will then be an Act.

Poonam Mahajan, MP, in support of HSI India and PFA's campaign #NoMore50 is going to introduce a private member bill in the Lok sabha this session.

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Antony Rubin, who has been working for the cause of animals for more than a decade, informed Indiatimes, "We have presented our case with a scientific research that shows that people who abuse animals are likely to abuse humans in the near future as well. We have compiled a research with case studies from across the world, including India, which shows that the people who abuse animals are as likely to target humans as well."

Speaking about justice for animals that have been abused, Rubin speaks highly of being human. "People who abuse animals for fun are deeply psycologically disturbed. They require medical assistance. Instead of penalising them, they should be given more avenues to aid and assist animals - after psychological teatment to help them. These crimes must be declared as a non-bailable offence to deter irresponsible behaviour."

Facebook/Shravan Krishnan

"We need to reform the people instead of having "an eye for an eye" attitude."