Animal rights activists express concern over new draft rules on egg laying hens

Animal rights activists Tuesday slammed the draft rules on prevention of cruelty to animals for egg laying hens published recently by the Centre, saying they fall short of addressing the most serious risks to animal welfare and are "impractical and unenforceable".

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture released Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Egg laying hens) Rules 2019 following the order of the High Court, according to which, poultry farms in the country may be forced to give a space of not less than 550 sq cm and cannot put more than 6-8 birds in a cage.

However, criticising the rules, animal rights activists on Tuesday said that the rules merely increase the space given to egg laying hens from 450 sq cm to 550 sq cm, which will still allow egg laying hens to be confined in cramped cages.

Gauri Maulekhi, Trustee, People for Animals said through a statement, "The Rules are a mere eye-wash and must be objected to for their failure to adhere to the basic principles of law, and for failure to further the object of the parent Act (i.e. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act. The draft rule, by law and sprit is against the orders of the Delhi High Court."