The People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA) moved an application to Delhi High Court seeking direction to implement the provisions of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animal Act,2009 and National Action Plan for control and eradication of glanders in horses, mules, ponies, and donkeys in the national capital. PETA India asked the High Court in its application to test all the horses, mules, ponies, and donkeys in the national capital immediately.
The next hearing adjourned to next week. The application mentioned that despite being a complete ban on plying of horse-drawn carts in Delhi, some authorities are still permitting the carts to be piled in Delhi therefore, jeopardizing the safety and security of the residents of the national capital and also undermining the risk, torture, and cruelty meted out to the equines.
The plea also stated that entire Delhi is heinously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic which compelled the government to lock down the entire country to control the spread of coronavirus, which created turmoil in the life of the people. It also said that the outbreak of another disease like glanders in the horses, mules, and donkeys and its transmission to humans will lead to catastrophe and will create havoc for the people of Delhi.
The petitioner apprehended that if the authorities fail to take timely action in preventing the spread of zoonotic disease, the same may lead to the death of the animals as well as a threat to human lives as well.
The plea also said that Delhi has been taking this zoonotic disease seriously and has not been taking necessary precautions to prevent people of Delhi from the outbreak of another life-threatening disease.
