DM Jammu prohibits use of draught, pack animals during daytime

Jammu, May 29: Keeping in view the searing heat wave, District Magistrate (DM) Jammu Sachin Kumar Vaishya has prohibited the use of draught and pack animals during day time, invoking the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and other related rules.

Under these Acts and rules, draught animals are defined as those ‘working animals’ which are made to pull loads while pack animals are those which carry loads on their backs.

The use of these animals will remain prohibited during the period between 12 noon and 3 pm.

These provisions are invoked annually as preventive measures to minimise potential of inflicting injury, which may even result in death of these animals, being used for drawing vehicles or carrying loads amidst temperature exceeding 37 degrees C.

The prohibition, coming into force with immediate effect, will remain in place for two months or till it (prohibition) is withdrawn.

Violations attract stringent action under the provisions of the animal welfare legislations.

“It has been reported that there are instances where certain people are using animals including buffalo, bullock, pony, mule, donkey and camel, among others for carrying loads during the daytime (period between 12 noon and 3 pm) amidst high day temperature (exceeding 37° C), resulting into scenario which have the potential of inflicting injury and may even result in death of the animals,” noted DM Jammu in his order.

In this connection, he also refers to the “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960” and the “Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animals Rules, 1965” which provide the legal framework to take preventive measures and stringent action against the offenders violating the provisions of the animal welfare legislations.

“Under Section 6 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animals Rules, 1965, it is hereby ordered that no person shall use or cause to be used any animal for drawing any vehicle or carrying any load during the period between 12 noon and 3 pm,” Vaishya ordered.

“The order shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in force for two months from the date of its issue or till the order is rescinded whichever be earlier,” he directed.

Notably, the rules related to draught and pack animals also specify that no person will use or cause to be used any animal for drawing any vehicle or carrying any load for more than nine hours in a day in the aggregate; for more than five hours continuously without a break for rest for the animal.

Rules provide that animals should be disengaged after work. Use of spiked bits is also prohibited under rules.

“No person shall continue to keep or cause to be kept in harness any animal used for the purpose of drawing vehicles, after it is no longer needed for such purpose. No person shall, for the purpose of driving or riding an animal or causing it to draw any vehicle or for otherwise controlling it, use any spiked stick or bit, harness or yoke with spikes, knobs or projections or any other sharp tackle or equipment which causes or is likely to cause bruises, swellings, abrasions or severe pain to the animal,” rules mention.