PIL agnst hens in tiny cages: HC asks Centre,4 states to reply

The Delhi High Court today sought response of the Centre and Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh governments on PILs against keeping egg- laying hens in small wired cages that allege it amounts to "extreme cruelty".
The PILs were transferred here from these states on the Supreme Court's direction.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal issued notice to the Centre and the four states on the pleas by two NGOs - Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) and the People for Animals, who have alleged that keeping hens in battery cages amounts to "extreme cruelty".

Under the battery caging system, egg-laying hens are confined to space equivalent to an A-4 size paper sheet. In Europe, which follows the cage-free system, hens get space to move around and spread their wings, FIAPO has said in its plea.
The NGOs have contended that use of battery/wire cages was contrary to the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1960.
According to the NGOs as well as the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), egg-laying hens need much more space than the confined area provided by small cages which are stacked one on top of another. They have alleged that there was hardly any space for movement of the birds in these cages.