Bombay High Court issues notices to govt, police over closure of pet shops

The Bombay High Court on Friday issued notice to Maharashtra government, police and other authorities on a petition seeking closure of pet shops that sell exotic birds and animals at Crawford Market, urging criminal action against shopkeepers for cruel treatment meted out to such creatures.

A division bench of justices VM Kanade and MS Sonak asked the state government and other authorities to respond to the PIL within four weeks.

The PIL, filed by Sanjay Shirke, alleged that birds and animals were kept in barbaric conditions and urged the court to direct the Animal Welfare Board (AWB) to frame rules to regulate pet shops in the state.

As per the data with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, a total of 8,000 birds have been seized and rescued from Crawford Market since 1993, the PIL said.

The PIL cited a 2014 Supreme Court judgment which says that Article 21 of the Constitution of India — Right to life — applies not only to human beings but to all living beings, including animals.

Citing provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the PIL said that it was the duty of every person in-charge of any animal "to take all reasonable measures to ensure the well being of such animals and to prevent the infliction upon such animal of unnecessary pain or suffering".