Mumbai News: Colaba Police Book Horse-Carriage Driver For Animal Cruelty After PETA India Complains Of Illegal Operation
Mumbai: Colaba police have booked a horse-carriage driver for animal cruelty after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India filed a complaint against the person for operating a horse carriage illegally.
On Tuesday, the Colaba police registered a first information report (FIR) against the driver and possible owner of an illegal horse carriage which was spotted, being pulled on Madame Cama Road in Colaba, by a vigilant citizen and reported to PETA India. After receiving photographs of the horse-drawn carriage PETA India sprang into action and filed a complaint with Colaba police.
According to PETA India, the operation of such carriages has been prohibited by the Bombay High Court in its order dated June 8, 2015 in Animals and Birds Charitable Trust vs. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and others. PETA India was an intervenor in the said public interest litigation.
The FIR was registered under Sections 3 and 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The police have booked an individual named Pankaj, whose name and contact details were mentioned on the back of the carriage, and are currently working to locate him.
Saloni Sakaria, lead cruelty response coordinator with PETA India and a complainer in the case, said, “PETA India commends the efforts of the Colaba police station in implementing the directions of the High Court and sending a clear message that illegal use of horse carriages will not be tolerated. We urge the Mumbai Police to act against any illegal use of horse carriages in the city and also urge BMC to take swift action to prevent the keeping of horses in Mumbai in unlicensed stables.”
In its complaint, PETA India highlighted that the Bombay High Court, in its judgment dated June 8, 2015, not only prohibited the use of horse-drawn Victoria carriages for rides within Mumbai but also declared the keeping of horses in the city illegal, citing the absence of licensed stables under Section 394 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act, 1888.
As a result, the Court had directed BMC to shut down all such facilities and instructed the Mumbai Police to enforce the ban and take appropriate action against violators.
In July 2017, the High Court accepted the rehabilitation plan submitted by the Maharashtra government for horse-drawn carriage owners and drivers, allowing horses to be removed from Mumbai roads and drivers to receive a payment and a vendor licence, thus ensuring their livelihood.
PETA India had written to the then chief secretary of Maharashtra in May 2018 to implement this plan immediately by ensuring that the BMC receives the necessary funds, as approved by the state government.
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