Face2News/Abohar.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has requested the Chief Secretaries of all states and UTs to initiate necessary steps to stop Bull/Bullock cart races. Dr. S.K. Mittal, Nodal officer of the AWBI, in his letter of June 3, has explained that the Supreme Court has upheld the Amendment Acts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra states only. No animal races can be organised in other states and action that includes contempt of court will be taken under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for violations, the letter said.
Further, the Director of the Animal Husbandry Department of Punjabhas clarified that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had on September 25, 2019 passed “The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2019. The same was sent to the Central government for the consent of the President. Since then, the state govt has been having regular correspondence with the Center but the consent by the President of India was not received till date.
Commenting on the media reports such as “Residents were getting ready for bullock cart races in Kila Raipur”, the Director in his letter of June 5, 2023 sent to the Deputy Director at Ludhiana explained that no information has sofar been received from the Central government or the Animal Welfare Board of India that ban on bullock cart races has been lifted. Therefore, necessary action should be taken, in coordination with the Ludhiana district administration to prevent the bullock cart race planned by the organisers in Kila Raipur sports festival on June 11. EOM
