Think about every time you’ve winced at the suffering of an animal at the mercy of cruel people out there, everywhere, every other day. We were all reminded of that feeling when recently a Chennai man threw a dog off the terrace, and it makes our hearts boil. Now what if I told you, not only do most of the culprits in cases of animal cruelty not get caught, but even the ones who do can escape consequences with shocking ease?
Yes, it turns out that The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act allows inflictors of violence against animals to walk free for a fine of no more than ₹50.
The offences that are ‘punishable’ by a maximum of fifty bucks, include several horrifying acts between beating or maiming to killing a stray animal.
To address this shortcoming of our legal system, an image posted on Facebook points out the painful injustice these archaic laws are inflicting on animals. And how we need to come together and do a better job of protecting them.
Is this the price of life to us? How much longer till we have more than just a 50-rupee note standing between the culprits behind horrible acts of violence against innocent animals and freedom?
The men from Chennai were suspended from college and arrested but were soon released on bail to the outrage of many all over the country. All we need to know, is that we don’t live in a world where criminals like these can escape legal repercussions simply because of a law that hasn’t been changed since the 1960s.
Let this be a reminder that we need the law to protect all life in this country, equally. And here’s hoping that the #NoMore50 trend will make it happen. Legislators of India! Are you listening?
Feature source: Huffington Post
