PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS RULES, 2001

Sept. 8, 2018

During the hearing of Alwar Lynching case in Supreme Court, it was argued that Rule 3 in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rules, 2001, is contributing to cow vigilantism.

About:

Under Rule 3(5) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Establishment & Regulation of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Rules, 2001, state can confer powers upon “any society” in a district to prevent cruelty against animals.
According to senior advocate Indira Jaising, this rule provided “State accreditation” to cow vigilantism as these civil society groups have been given police power to stop vehicles, search premises and seize animals.
In July 2017, the Supreme Court condemned the frequency of lynching and calling it “horrendous acts of mobocracy” by cow vigilantes.

Source : The Hindu