SC issues notice on PIL seeking declaration of animals as legal persons

Supreme Court has issued a notice on a PIL seeking declaration of animals as legal persons observing the rising animal abuse and cases of animal cruelty across the nation. However, Chief Justice SA Bobde said that it is very unlikely that the court would allow the prayer regarding the legal entity.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), SA Bobde, on Wednesday has issued a notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to declare the entire animal kingdom as legal persons and equal to human beings.

However, CJI said that it is very unlikely that they would allow the prayer regarding the legal entity.

Read:|Vikarabad Municipality kills 20 stray dogs, police recovers bodies from a dump yard

The petitioner argued before the apex court that the situation across the nation is very bad, the animals are being hurt and the condition of animals needs to be elevated beyond the property.

But they are not equal to human beings, your dog is equal to you?, questioned the CJI.

Advocate responded to CJI 's enquiry by saying that as per the religious texts they are equal to human beings, just lower in strata in evolution. They also have feelings and intentions.

CJI observed that the court understands the need for punishing humans for hurting animals but they are not in for granting legal entity.

Read:|FIR against 10 including DLF builders in molestation, animal abuse case