The government has recently decided to amend the 60-year-old Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act so as to make the punishments more stringent. In a written response in Rajya Sabha, the minister of fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying Giriraj Singh stated that there is a need to amend the 1960 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by increasing both the punishment provisions and monetary penalties.
Currently, under the Act, the assailant would only be charged between Rs 10- 50 for any harm such as beating, kicking, torturing, starving, overloading, overriding, and mutilating an animal. The new proposed amendment draft categorizes the offense into minor injury, major injury leading to permanent disability, and death to an animal due to cruel practice. The fine is said to range from Rs 750 to Rs 75,000 and jail term up to five years for the different crimes. The draft also states on making offenses of cruelty against animals cognizable and plans on making the state animal welfare board a statutory body. Since it is still working in progress the draft will be presented to the public for comments to finalize it.
