Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 9: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by SAVE (Save Animal Value Environment), an NGO working for welfare of animals through its chairperson Devinder Kaur Madaan, seeking constitution of District Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sanjeev Kumar today directed Chief Secretary and Secretaries of General Administration Department and Animal Husb-andry Department, Divisional Commissioners and others to file response within four weeks.
Advocates Sheikh Najeeb Ashraf, Supriya Chouhan and Irtiza Mushtaq appearing for PIL drew the attention of the Division Bench towards Communication No.9-1/ 2015-16/PCA dated 16-09-2015 whereby Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) requested Chief Secretaries of all the States including J&K to take necessary steps to constitute the State Animal Welfare Board and District SPCAs if not already done.
“Till date District Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have not been constituted in J&K”, Advocate Sheikh Najeeb said. He also drew the attention of the Division Bench towards the directions of the Apex Court passed in Geeta Seshamani V/s Union of India & Ors wherein the Apex Court on August, 6, 2008 had directed all the States to establish Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) in every district as contemplated under Rule 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Establishment and Regulation of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Rules, 2001.
He further highlighted that the Apex Court had granted a period of 3 months for the constitution of the societies but more than 9 years have lapsed and till date the directions of the Apex Court have not been complied with by the State of J&K.
After considering the submissions of counsels for the PIL, Division Bench directed Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secr-etary General Administration Department, Commissioner Secretary Animal/ Sheep Husba-ndry Department, Divisional Commissioners and Directors of Animal Husbandry Department to file their response within four weeks.
AAG Rohit Kapoor accepted notices on behalf of Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secre-tary GAD and Commissioner Secretary Animal/Sheep Husbandry Department.
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