Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

The Gujarat police seized sheep and goats belonging to C.M. Nat for alleged violations of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and related statutes. A Judicial Magistrate initially ordered that the animals be placed under the custody of the appellant Pinjrapole, but the Additional Sessions Judge later directe…

A truck transporting eighteen cattle was intercepted for lacking proper permits, leading to seizure of the animals and registration of FIRs under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act and related statutes. The private respondents, claiming ownership, applied under CrPC sections 451 and 457 for interim custody, which …

The Supreme Court, acting suo moto, took cognizance of a news report of a child’s death from a stray dog bite in Delhi and issued directions to pick up, sterilise, deworm and vaccinate stray dogs across the National Capital Region, initially prohibiting their release back onto the streets. Several NGOs and individuals …

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka) Amendment Acts of 2017, which sought to legalise traditional bovine sports such as Jallikattu, Kambala and Bullock Cart Race by introducing specific rules and notifications. Petitioners…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, which permits the traditional bull-taming sport of Jallikattu. The Court held that the Act collides with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 because it allows the taming of bulls for entertainment, contrary…

The Supreme Court, acting suo moto, examined a dramatic rise in dog bite incidents across India, especially in the National Capital Region, which disproportionately affected visually‑impaired persons, children, the elderly and the poor. Data presented showed a steep increase in reported bites and highlighted the public…

The appellants, Krishna Lal Chawla and others, challenged a private complaint filed in 2018 by their neighbour (Respondent No.2) under Section 200 CrPC, which alleged offences arising from a 2012 altercation. The complaint was filed six years after the incident, despite a charge‑sheet already being filed against the co…

The Supreme Court examined whether the traditional events of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bull‑ock cart races in Maharashtra violate the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA Act) and the Constitution’s fundamental duties. Relying on affidavits and reports from the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Court fou…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by animal‑right activist Bharat Kothari against a Gujarat High Court order that quashed an FIR alleging cruelty to nearly 2,000 goats and sheep and simultaneously convicted six livestock owners (respondents) under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, despite them not bein…

The appellant’s truck carrying 17 cow progeny was seized and the driver and others were arrested under the Madhya Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 2004 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The trial court acquitted all accused, finding no evidence of intent to slaughter, but the District Magistr…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by circus owners challenging a 1998 notification issued under Section 22 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 that prohibited the exhibition and training of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions. The petitioners argued that the notification was arbitrary, that Sect…

The appellant’s Eicher truck was seized by police for transporting 28 buffalo calves, and the appellant sought its release under Section 451 of the CrPC. The lower courts rejected the application, invoking Section 68(3) of the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2011, which bars release of a seized vehicle for…