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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice in a plea seeking direction to take action against and regulate the functioning of the designated dairy colonies of Delhi where bovines are kept and used for commercial milk production.

A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad issued the notice while stating, "This is the reason why people are turning vegan."

The bench was hearing a plea filed by Sunayana Sibal, Asher Jesudoss, and Akshita Kukreja through Advocate Smriti Sinha which alleged, "The bovines in the dairy colonies are subject to brutal cruelty, experience immense unnecessary suffering and pain, and are reared in the absence of the infrastructure required by law leading to unhygienic and unsafe milk products, copious amounts of pollution being discharged and a complete public nuisance being created."

The Senior Counsel, appearing for the petitioners, informed the bench that the situation is very bad. "I was shocked. The Bulls are left unattended, Cows are kept in bad conditions," he added.

The plea submitted that this is resulting in a blatant violation of: 

1. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960;

2. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Registration of Cattle Premises) Rules, 1978;

3. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011;

4. The Central Pollution Control Board's Guidelines for Environmental Management of Dairy Farms and Gaushalas; 

5. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; 

6. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; 

7. The Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957;

8. The Delhi Police Act, 1978 and 

9. The Indian Penal Code, 1860.

It has been alleged that the petitioners had personally visited the 9 dairy colonies in Delhi in August 2021 and noted various transgressions / non-compliance with applicable laws and sent the same in a written report/representation along with photographic evidence.

Case Title: SUNAYANA SIBAL & ORS. Vs. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.