The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Government told to set up SPCA in each district

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Friday, Jun 08, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Government told to set up SPCA in each district

Special Correspondent

"Most of the Collectors failed to pay heed to the mandatory provisions"

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Government to establish a Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in each district within three months.

A Division Bench, comprising Justice Dharma Rao Elipe and Justice S. Palanivelu, passed the order on a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate G. Rajendran.

The petitioner submitted that even though the Government had issued a notification for the establishment and regulation of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 2001, most of the Collectors in Tamil Nadu failed to pay heed to the mandatory provisions.

As per the Rules, the State Government must establish an SPCA unit in each of the districts within six months from the date of commencement of the Rules.

Such societies shall have a hospital and paid servants, and the Animal Welfare Board of India shall assist the society. The society would have the power to prevent illegal transportation of cattle. The district administration concerned is obliged to provide land, building and other infrastructure to the society, Mr. Rajendran said.

Though the notification was issued in 2001, the Rules had not been implemented properly by the Collectors. It is a mandatory on the part of the Collector to implement the scheme, he submitted.

In its order, the Bench said though the petition was filed in 2002, the State Government had not filed any counter-affidavit explaining the steps taken by it in respect of the notification. "In such circumstances, we consider it appropriate to direct the State Government to take necessary action for implementing the notification regarding the establishment and regulation of the societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rules of 2001 within a period of three months," it said.

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