Canine breeding unit in Saidapet told to shut shop in two months

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan on perusing the report of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which had recommended its closure, said “The dogs in the unit would be rehabilitated with the assistance of AWBI.”

AWBI in its recommendations had pointed out that high prevalence of health problems particularly skin diseases and high mortality rates due to inbreeding, depression, prevalence of pressure sores and ectoparasites, continuous confinement, lack of opportunity for socialisation and inadequate exercise contravenes the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The report also pointed out that the unit had failed to adhere to the terms and conditions set by AWBI while registering dogs at DBU, under Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001. 

The other critical observation on the DBU included absence of a breeding policy and standard operating procedure to prevent indiscriminate breeding, inbreeding depression and to serve original objective of conservation and promotion of native breed. The issue had come to the fore based on two PILs filed by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, Mumbai and another one by E Seshan that the unit run by the Animal Husbandry Department, was in contravention of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and the rules framed thereunder. 

It may be noted that the bench in its order on August 4, 2014, had granted three months’ time to remove the infirmities and subject the unit for an inspection. Interestingly, the bench had held then, “Thereafter, the Animal Welfare Board will carry out a fresh inspection. If on consideration of the situation, the Board still recommends there is no sufficient improvement and the unit should be closed, then we are of the view that the recommendation should be followed and the unit be shut down.”

Notice on Singam 3 ticket rates in theatres

The Madras High Court ordered notice on a plea seeking to act against cinema theatre owners in Chennai and other parts of the state who were reportedly set to collect excessive ticket fares for the movie Singam 3@ S3 starred by actor Surya and Anushka. Justice T Raja before whom the petition filed by G Devarajan came up for hearing, issued notice to all the authorities including the Principal Secretary (Home Cinemas) returnable within two weeks. The petitioner had submitted that despite the government fixing the maximum and minimum rates that theatres could charge through an order dated May 20, 2009, theatre owners unmindful of the rules are collecting much more than what has been fixed for new releases with big names. The petitioner while referring to his previous petition filed on Rajinikanth starrer Kabali, said several cinema theatres are neither printing the name of the theatre nor the ticket amount in a clear bid to cheat the public and the government. He noted that theatre owners are bound to swindle the public by selling Singam 3 tickets at higher rates than what has been prescribed.