Telangana MP Urges Prime Minister to Strengthen Animal Protection Laws
Telangana MP Porika Balram Naik has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his letter, he requests an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
The letter, dated July 26, highlights the urgent need to introduce a new animal welfare bill, known as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill 2022. Naik stresses that this bill should be discussed in the current session of Parliament to create a safer and more humane society for both humans and animals.
Currently, penalties for crimes against animals are very low. The maximum fine for severe crimes such as beating, poisoning, raping, or burning an animal is just Rs. 50, and Rs. 100 for repeat offenders.
Mousumi Gupta, director of Government Affairs at Humane Society International/India, also spoke on the matter. She said, “The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, is outdated and inadequate in addressing the severity of crimes against animals. It’s disheartening to see that even the most heinous acts of cruelty carry minimal penalties. The time for change is now.”
Since 2016, Humane Society International/India and People For Animals have been advocating for changes to the PCA Act, which is more than 60 years old. Despite several consultations between 2020 and 2022, the new bill has not yet been tabled in Parliament.
Over 140 MPs, including Hema Malini, Pankaj Chaudhary, Arjun Lal Meena, Dr. K. Laxman, Margani Bharat Ram, Dr. Mohammed Jawed, and Raja Amreshwara Naik, have supported the call for change. They have also written to the Prime Minister, urging that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill, 2022, be brought up for discussion and passing.
