(a) the authority designated to check cruelty against the animals in the country;
(b) whether any review of the functions of the said authority has been conducted;
(c) if so, the outcome thereof; and
(d) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure effective implementation of the prevention of cruelty to Animals Act, 1960?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) ‘Prevention of cruelty to animals’ is a subject which falls in the entry number 17, List III, Schedule VII of the Constitution of India. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (59 of 1960) was enacted for the purpose of preventing infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals.
The Act has, within itself, several penal provisions (see Section 11, Section 12, Section 20, Section 26, and Section 38) and the act has to be enforced by the police and the district administration who are under the administrative control of the State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations.
(b) & (c) Under the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States under article 246(3) of the Constitution, ‘Police’ is in the List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. It is the responsibility of the States to review the functioning of Police towards enforcement of animal protection laws.
(d) The provisions of the PCA Act and Rules made thereunder are enforced as per law.
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