The Delhi High Court today was displeased with the Centre for not yet finalising the rules to regulate running of pet shops and warned that it will call the secretary concerned to appear before it if the situation continues.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said the central government's stand, for the last three years, that the file on the rules was under examination "conveys nothing".
It further said, "We are on the verge of calling the secretary" and listed the matter for further hearing on July 9.
The court was hearing a PIL by animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, seeking framing of rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to regulate functioning of pet shops.
She has alleged in her plea that animals were subjected to intense cruelty in several pet shops
The high court had earlier also told the central government that it cannot wait "indefinitely" for finalising the pet shop rules.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)