The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre and the city government what steps they have taken in furtherance of the 2010 draft rules to regulate sale of animals and birds in the national capital.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw demanded an explanation from the Delhi government and Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on a plea alleging that illegal sale of birds and animals in the city has been "thriving" in the absence of norms.
"Having regard to the nature of the cause sought to be espoused in this petition filed by way of the public interest litigation (PIL), we feel it is necessary for us to hear.
"... Central government standing counsel, accepts notice for the respondents and seeks time to get instructions as to the further steps, if any, taken pursuant to the draft rules ... Formulated in the year 2010," the court said.
The court's direction came during hearing of a PIL, which said the animals are kept in pet shops in an unhygienic manner and transported in appalling conditions due to the lack of guidelines.
The PIL was filed by environmentalist Gauri Maulekhi, who highlighted that trade in pets is in urgent need of regulation to ensure that animals are treated humanely during their stay and transportation.
The petitioner said that the 2010 Pet Shop Rules include regulation of food and water given to animals, regulation of cages in which animals are kept to ensure they can move with ease, maintenance of a conducive atmosphere and veterinary care when required.
"The draft rules have been prepared with a view of ensuring that animals sold as pets or as commodity receive proper care and humane treatment as long as they are in the possession of shopkeepers or during transportation," the PIL said.
Despite being protected under the Constitution, animals are being "blatantly" traded by pet shops which also inflict cruelty on them, the plea added.
