Animal Laws of India

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From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2007:

 

 

Animal Laws of India

edited by Maneka Gandhi, Ozair Husain, & Raj Panjwani

Third Edition

Universal Law Publishing Co. (c/o <sales or

<www.unilawbooks.com>), 2006.

1,236 pages, hardcover. 995 rupees (about $22.00) plus shipping.

 

 

Indian animal advocates often claim that India has the laws

most favorable to animals of any nation, and the most favorable

courts at the upper appellate levels.

Thus Indian animal advocacy tends to emphasize improving

enforcement and trying to move as expeditiously as possible through

often incompetent and corrupt local courts to reach the upper levels.

This distinctly contrasts with the emphasis of activism in the U.S.,

where seeking passage of new laws generates many times as many

appeals and e-mails as seeking enforcement--although activity on

behalf of stronger humane law enforcement has increased exponentially

since the advent of Alison Gianotto's enforcement-oriented web site

<www.Pet-Abuse.com>.

Animal Laws of India (Third Edition) includes all the major

animal protection laws of India and individual Indian states under

one cover, with summaries of the most important court precedents and

instructions on how to pursue cases using each law.

The intent of editors Maneka Gandhi, Ozair Husain, and Raj

Panjwani is to help local humane societies to bring prosecutions

against animal abusers. Including the laws of each state is

worthwhile because many common offenses involve transporting

livestock or wildlife from one state to another. At times there can

be significant advantages to prosecuting a case in one of several

different possible venues. Animal Laws of India can help law

enforcers decide where, for instance, to intercept a trainload of

cattle en route to illegal slaughter.

Animal Laws of India also enables people trying to draft or

pass legislation in other nations to see what has succeeded in

India--or, in some cases, has won passage without being

enforceable. Some of the legislative topics are specific to Indian

culture and customs, but many others occur throughout the world.

While western nations, for instance, have not had to deal with

donkey-trains and bullock carts in more than a century, the relevant

Indian legislation could be helpful in Africa and Latin America.

The heft of Animal Laws of India is worth a mention. If one

is going to " throw the book " at an offender, this one could have a

substantial impact. --Merritt Clifton

 

 

 

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Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing

original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide,

founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the

decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations.

We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year;

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