Step up vigil on illegal pet shops: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has asked an legal services authority to make a surprise visit to Crawford Market and submit a report within four weeks regarding the alleged sale of birds and animals in illegal shops. It has also asked the MRA Marg police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to maintain a strict vigil in the area to ensure that animals and birds are not sold illegally. The court issued directions while hearing a PIL, filed by activist Sanjay Shirke, which seeks criminal action against shop owners for animal cruelty and illegal trade.

The plea states that even though shops do not have the required license from the civic body to operate no action is being taken by authorities. "There is no systematic approach to ensure that such shops are closed down or stop the illegal sale of these animals and birds," the court said. The petition also claims that animals are drugged, large birds —many of which are exotic — are stuffed into small cages and debeaked.

The petition

It claims that the shops sell puppies taken away from their mothers even before they can open their eyes.
Koels, jungle fowls, macaws, horn bill, munias, parakeets and mynahs are also openly sold.