Indian government to increase penalty for animal cruelty

Following the Supreme Court directions issued in the Public Interest Litigation supported by Animal Equality to ban bullock cart races and campaigns by various organizations, the Indian government is looking to increase penalties for cruelty to animals from 70 cents to 85 USD. The court stated:“Parliament is expected to make proper amendment of the PCA Act to provide an effective deterrent to achieve the object and purpose of the Act and for violation of Section 11, adequate penalties and punishments should be imposed.”Amruta Ubale, Executive Director of Animal Equality in India said:, “Animal Equality also presented to the government its investigation in chicken, egg and dairy farms with a list of asks, one of which was to increase the penalty.”The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 has not been amended since its enactment and in its current state, the act demands a miniscule fine for any act of cruelty towards animals, including beating, kicking, torturing, starving or mutilating the animal.