Kolkata: A division bench of the Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal government to inspect all horse-drawn hackney carriages in Kolkata and immediately seize the unlicensed ones
Although the order was passed on November 20, the uploaded copy for the same was available only on Friday.
Noting that the conditions of many such horses drawing carriages are тАЬnot up to the markтАЭ, the division bench of Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya also directed the state animal husband & veterinary services department to conduct another round of health check-up for such ailing horses.
The courtтАЩs directives come after it expressed concern over the state governmentтАЩs failure to enforce existing licensing and animal welfare laws, stating that тАЬit appears that the authorities have turned a blind eye to the said issueтАЭ.
The division bench has further directed the state government to provide an explanation for the delay in implementing its own undertaking in June 2022 that proper medical treatment would be rendered to lame, sick, weak, and pregnant horses, noting that extremely heavy carriages add to the animalsтАЩ burden and may render them unfit for any activity.
PETA India has offered to rehabilitate seized horses so they receive the needed expert equine veterinary care, treatment, and rest. Welcoming the division bench order, PETA IndiaтАЩs deputy director of advocacy Harshil Maheshwari said that it is a highly welcome development considering that the division bench has recognised that horses in the city are in poor shape and need help.
тАЬNumerous inspection reports have established that sick, badly injured, and emaciated horses are forced to haul heavy tourist carriages in Kolkata,тАЭ he added. At the same time, as many as 150 veterinarians have appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to pose prohibition on horse-drawn carriages in Kolkata. The veterinarians noted that the horses are forced to haul heavy loads of people on hard roads, conditions that lead to irreparable and irreversible leg and hoof problems that result in lameness.
–IANS
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