An activist of People For Animals (PFA) has urged the Maharashtra police and state transport department to ensure proper implementation of the new rules notified for livestock transportation.
The Central government had last year notified stricter rules for livestock transportation and made it mandatory for such vehicles to have special licences, a move aimed at curbing cruelty against animals.
The new rules -- Central Motor Vehicles (Eleventh Amendment) Rules, 2015 -- that came in force from January 1, also make it compulsory for such vehicles to have partitions for each animal.
As per the notification, no motor vehicle meant for carrying animals shall be permitted to carry any other goods.
In this regard, PFA activist Sharma has written letters to all the Police Commissioners and Superintendents of the state and the transport department.
He wants that necessary instructions with reference to the said notification should be issued to all the concerned police stations and officers, drawing their attention towards the provisions of the amended rules and requiring them to follow the same strictly in letter and spirit with effect from the date of application of the amended rules.
"I have noticed that on account of lack of knowledge or incorrect understanding of the amended law by the police and the prosecuting authorities, many a times the accused get themselves easily bailed out from courts," said Sharma.
