In the backdrop of the death of horse Shaktiman in Dehradun, parliamentarians cutting across party lines, have asked the Environment Ministry to increase the quantum of punishment for animal cruelty by amending the relevant law.
With several cases of severe cruelty cases being reported in recent time, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, BJD MP Baijayant Jay Panda and BJP MP Satyapal Singh have written to the Ministry to increase the penalties, an animal rights body said.
A statement issued by Humane Society International-India said the minimum penalty for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is `10 and the maximum is `50 and has not been amended since 1960 when it was first enacted.
It said the letter comes in response to the campaign started by it and People for Animals following the filing of a new private member bill by MP Poonam Mahajan. “The penalties for cruel treatment of animals under Section 11 of the PCA Act is grossly inadequate,” Tharoor was quoted as saying.