NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday questioned and sought answers from the Centre for not implementing rules formulated by the Animal Welfare Board (AWBI), to prevent the cruelty meted out to caged hens in poultry farms.
In its recommendation, the AWBI had maintained that hens are kept in wired cages with many of them stuffed into to a common space, giving them no room for movement.
A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur said, “Why are you not implementing the recommended rules. Is there some pressure from the poultry industry.”
The bench was shocked to hear that the Centre had failed to implement the rules recommended by the AWBI on caging of hens in 2010 and 2013. The court issued a notice to the Centre and asked Additional Solicitor General, Maninder Singh, to respond to the petition filed by the Board and asked him to inquire with the authorities concerned.
Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the Animal Welfare Board said draft rules were recommended twice, in 2010 and 2013 but there was no response from the Centre. He went on to insinuate that a lot of politicians were involved in the poultry business, making it very powerful.
“The industry may have prevented the government from going ahead with the recommended rules, otherwise why would they not respond to the draft rules,” he said. “In India, we are still following the battery caging system — small wire cages for housing egg- laying hens,” which was abandoned by the European Union long back. Under the battery caging system, egg-laying hens are provided the space equivalent of an A-4 size sheet, while in Europe, which follows the cage-free system, the hens get space to move and spread their wings.”
He also mentioned how males become very territorial and guard fixed areas during breeding season. Dominant males patrol the boundaries of their territory and keep other roosters away from the hens. Subordinate males may occupy areas within the dominant male’s territory, but without female partners.
The hearing for this case is scheduled for 5 August.