After puppies' killing in Bengaluru, activists ramp up calls for 'Shaktiman Act'

Current laws framed in 1960, impose fine of paltry Rs 50 for first-time offence

The heart-rending story of a stray dog, Ammu, and the earlier amputation of a police horse Shaktiman in Dehradun following an attack, have spurred fresh calls for a so-called ‘Shaktiman Act’ that would tighten punishment for cruelty to animals and increase penalties from the paltry Rs 50 cap currently for a first-time offender.

Down to Earth magazine pointed out last week that in 2011, the Anima Welfare Board had drawn up a revamp of the existing laws, but two successive Environment Ministers in the then Congress-led UPA government – Jayanthi Natarajan and Jairam Ramesh – failed to take any action.

The magazine also noted that the Supreme Court has already suggested that Parliament elevate animal rights to a Constitutional rights’ level, “…as done by many of the countries in the world, so as to protect their dignity and honour”. However, no action has been taken by the incumbent BJP-led NDA government in this matter, either.

The calls for the Shaktiman Act come on the back on increasing reports of brutality against animals, including the incident in Dehradun where a local BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi brandished a stick at a police horse Shaktiman, causing it to panic and fall into an open manhole. The horse’s leg had to be subsequently amputated despite initial medical reports that suggested amputation would not be necessary. Joshi has been denied bail – which would not have exceeded Rs 50, as per current law – by a local court.

Last week, residents of a Bengaluru locality were shocked when a neighbour, Ponnamma, flung eight newly-born puppies of Ammu against stone across the street, killing them all, the Times of India reported. The woman was reportedly angry because Ammu had had her litter under a drain in front of her house.

Ponnamma also had no regret over her actions, the newspaper reported. “When we asked her about it, she just said, achcha nahi laga, fek diya (didn't like it, threw it)," a resident was quoted as saying in The Times of India. Meanwhile, the disconsolate Ammu has been seen walking around the graves of her children, trying to dig them up and nurse them.

Activists say while incidents of cruelty to animals are common, the current laws do not provide a strong enough deterrent and need to be updated for the 21^st century. For example, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was a law promulgated in 1960, and has not been updated since. Worse, the penalties it recommends are abysmally low by today’s rates of inflation.

For example, first time offenders for a range of acts that are cruel to animals can get off on bail of a paltry Rs 50, less than what it costs to get a coffee at a chain joint. As per the law, the offender “shall be punishable (in the case of a first offence, with fine which shall not be less than ten rupees but which may extend to fifty rupees and in the case of a second or subsequent offence committed within three years of the previous offence, with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five rupees but which may extend, to one hundred rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend, to three months, or with both.]”

In January, a video from Chandigarh went viral showing residents stringing a dog upside down from a tree and beating it brutally t sthat went viral showed a group of men hanging a dog upside down from a tree and beating it to with wooden sticks. Worse, a policeman is seen in the video (WARNING: CONTENT CONTAINS GRAPHIC VIOLENCE) helping them.

There was also an uproar after pictures of dozens of dead dogs and puppies in Kannur district of Kerala were circulated on social media. Activists have claimed the government is behind mass killings of dogs. In Delhi, too, where a number of animal rights NGOs are based, not to mention the Animal Welfare Board, the battle between humans and strays has only grown, especially in residential neighbourhoods.