SC notice on cruelty to hens in coops

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 29 

The pathetic condition in which hens are kept, in tiny wire cages without enough space to move around, was raised in the Supreme Court today. Senior counsel KK Venugopal told the court that the manner in which egg-laying hens were caged was cruel and in breach of provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. 

The apex court issued a notice to the Centre, seeking its response within a week. 

A Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur passed the order on a petition filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India that complained about the absence of proper regulations for the purpose.

Hens were being kept in cages without room for even slight movement. Over a period of time, they became lame and were unable to even flutter when taken out for slaughter, Venugopal pleaded.

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The court was told that the battery caging system was abandoned by the European Union long back. 

Under this system, egg-laying hens were provided space equivalent to an A-4 size sheet, while under the cage-free system followed in Europe, the hens were provided space to move around and spread wings. 

The court was shown photographs of poultry farms with caged hens. 

The petitioner sought the transfer of four public interest litigations (PILs) pending in high courts to the Supreme Court. 

The Bench posted the next hearing for August 5.