Check cruelty towards poultry birds: HC to govt

NAINITAL: The Uttarakhand high court on Tuesday directed the central government to consider the implementation of the draft rules framed by Law Commission of India for egg-laying hens, said animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, who appeared in person over the public interest litigation (PIL) she filed in 2017.

The draft rules include Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Egg Laying Hens) Rules 2017 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Broiler Chicken) Rules 2017. The high court ruled that transport of poultry birds should be in compliance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and Transport of Animal Rules 1978, said Maulekhi .

The court also directed the state government to implement its 2013 order regarding phasing out the current battery cage system for poultry birds in the state. A division bench of acting chief justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari gave these directions while responding to the PIL. The PIL said the hens were being housed in unhygienic conditions and are crammed into tight cages during their transportation, due to which they suffer a lot. The PIL alleged that the government has failed to perform the duty to check cruelty towards these birds. Maulekhi , who is member secretary, People for Animals, Uttarakhand, said she demanded that the usage of battery cage facilities be stopped and instead, enough space be allowed for the housing of each egg-laying hen in which the bird can spread its wings, without touching another bird or the side of the cage.