The government draft amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act proposes a penalty of up to Rs 75,000, with a jail term of five years or both according to the Ministry of Animal Husbandry. This is a quantum jump from the fine in existing law which stipulates a penalty between Rs 10 and Rs 50 for any act of cruelty to animals such as beating, kicking, torturing, starving, overriding, overloading and mutilating an animal. This draft amendment proposing a huge penalty and jail term is a step in the right direction given the fact that people even take sadistic pleasure in hurting animals. It may be recalled that an elephant in Kerala was suspected to have consumed a pineapple filled with powerful firecrackers which exploded in its mouth leading to death. It is understood that there are 316 cases relating to cruelty to animals pending in various courts across the country. The draft amendment also provides for making cruelty to animals cognizable and proposes offences in three categories namely minor injury, major injury leading to permanent disability and death due to cruelty. Inflicting torture to even pet animals is a grim reality in our society and hence they need protection against cruelty. At times pet animals are chained or caged for days on end. The draft will be put out in the public domain for views and comments before being incorporated in the PCA Act, 1960.
