In an attempt to work towards animal welfare, Haryana has taken a wonderful step. According to reports, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has allotted the status of ‘legal person or entity’ to animals.
The order has been passed in Haryana after a year of Uttarakhand passing an order to ‘protect and promote greater welfare of animals’.
Both orders were written and passed by Justice Rajiv Sharma who was transferred from the Uttarakhand High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The verdict reads,
The animals should be healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behavior without pain, fear and distress. They are entitled to justice. The animals cannot be treated as objects or property.
The verdict will also issue a prescribed load draught animals will be allowed to carry while pulling a vehicle.
Justice Sharma signed the verdict with a ‘live and let live motto’ and said,
All the citizens throughout the state of Haryana are hereby declared persons in loco parentis (meaning – in the place of a parent) as the human face for the welfare/protection of animals.
The decision was lauded by netizens.
We hope more states follow in Haryana’s footsteps.
We hope more states follow in Haryana’s footsteps.