Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11

Jaspreet Singh Minhas, Judicial Magistrate (First Class), has imposed a fine on two shops selling meat after finding them guilty of ill-treating birds.

Dharminder Kumar Dogra, field inspector, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Sector 38, Chandigarh, filed complainants against Ishan of Ambala Fish Centre, Sector 21-C, Chandigarh, and Pardeep Kumar of Simla Meat Fish and Broiler Shop, Sector 21-C, Chandigarh, under Section 34 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

As per the prosecution, the accused were caught while keeping birds in a pathetic condition during checking in March, 2021.

There was no sufficient place in cages in which birds were kept, said Dogra. No water/feed was available in cages and birds were kept in an unhygienic condition, Dogra added. The accused were warned many times regarding this, but no improvement was seen, said Dogra.

Accordingly, the complaint was filed against accused for cruelty punishable under Section 11 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, Dogra added.

Finding a prima facie case against the accused notices of accusation have been served upon accused, to which both pleaded guilty and did not claim trial.

Court says, “In view of the fact that the accused have voluntarily pleaded guilty, they are held guilty for the commission of offence punishable under Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The accused are convicted accordingly.”

After taking into consideration the antecedents of the convicts and the nature of offence, court imposed fine of Rs50 on each of them as prescribed under the law.

SPCA files 25 more cases in court

The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Chandigarh, has filed cases against at least 25 shops dealing in chicken and poultry in the city for ill treating birds. Dhaminder Kumar Dogra, field inspector, the SPCA, said chickens were confined into enclosures, which had no sufficient space for them. Chickens starved for space to the extent that they could not even spread their wings or turn around, he added. They were kept in the open under the scorching heat with no water and food, he said. The cramped confines result in hens lying on their own waste, which was not cleaned, he added. Such conditions caused discomfort, pain and suffering, which was a punishable offence, he said. Different courts served notices to shops for filing reply.