Courtesy AAPN/Dr Chinny Krshna (Blue Cross of India):New proposed Animal Welfare Act
member's bill accepted by the government in history of independent
India.
Though most people are under the impression that the PCA Act of 1960 was
a private member's bill, the truth is that the initial proposal for a
comprehensive bill for the prevention of cruelty to animals was indeed
such a bill brought in by Rajya Sabha (Upper House) member,
Mrs. Rukmini Devi Arundale in 1956. After the first reading of this
Bill, the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru felt that this
was a most
important and necessary piece of legislation and it would, therefore,
be fitting that the Bill be brought in by the Government.
He requested Rukmini Devi to withdraw her Bill and said an identically
worded Bill would be introduced by the Government. Rukmini Devi
magnanimously agreed to do so and withdrew her Bill and Nehru's
government brought in the Bill that was passed and became the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, (59 0f 1960).
The new proposed Animal Welfare Act will primarily remove the short
comings of the present PCA Act and its amendments, especially in the
area of penalties for breaking the law.
Such an amended law has been in the works for well over 20 years and it
is most heartening that Mr. Jairam Ramesh has taken up a series of
fresh legislation in various aspects of animal welfare and wildlife.
Dr. S. Chinny Krishna
Chairman
Blue Cross of India
No comments:
Post a Comment