Kolkata
The West Bengal government has been ordered by a division bench of the Calcutta High Court to examine every horse-drawn hackney carriage in Kolkata and confiscate any that are not licensed right away.
Despite the order having been passed on November 20, the uploaded copy was not accessible until Friday.
The division bench of Justices T.S. Sivagnanam and Hiranmay Bhattacharya also ordered the state animal husbandry & veterinary services department to perform another round of health examinations for such sick horses, noting that the conditions of many of these horses pulling carriages are not up to the mark.
The court issued the orders in response to its concerns about the state government’s apparent lack of attention to the licensing and animal welfare laws, saying that it seems that they have been disregarded.
The division bench has further ordered the state government to explain why it took so long to carry out its own promise in June 2022 to treat lame, sick, weak, and pregnant horses with the proper medical care, pointing out that very heavy carriages add to the animals’ burden and might make them unfit for any kind of activity.
In order to provide seized horses with the necessary professional equine veterinary care, treatment, and relaxation, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) India has offered to rehabilitate them. Harshil Maheshwari, deputy director of advocacy at PETA India, welcomed the division bench order, calling it a highly positive development given that the division bench acknowledged that the city’s horses were in poor condition and in need of assistance.
