Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
Various Non-Profit organizations all across the globe, working in the field of animal welfare are called Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). They work independently of each other with their own sets of guidelines and policies stating their mode of functioning with respect to the protection of animals from cruelty, pain and unnecessary suffering.
SPCAs in India
Vide The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Establishment and Regulation of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Rules made by the Central Government in 2001, every state government was supposed to establish SPCA for each and every district in the state within six months from the commencement of the above-stated rules.
Functions of the SPCAs
- The primary function of the SPCA is to help the state government, the Animal Welfare Board of India and local authorities such as municipal board, State Animal Welfare Board, District Board or any local animal welfare organization authorized by any law in enforcing the provisions of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
- The SPCAs are also authorized under the rules to make bye-laws and guidelines as and when required for the efficient discharge of their duties and to contribute to the animal welfare of the relevant district.
- The SPCA has been authorized to search and seize any animal from any person who has committed an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It can also authorize a person to do the same on its behalf.
- The SPCAs are supposed to construct animal shelters and infirmaries to protect and treat the animals who are victims of cruelty, for which the state government has to provide all the facilities including land and finance.
- It is the duty of the SPCA to supervise the functioning of all the animal shelters and infirmaries in its area, including the ones which were already existing when the rules came into force, and further, to appoint an administrator, a full-time veterinarian and other staff required for the proper function of the same.
Annual Report
Under the rules, it is mandatory for every SPCA to submit an annual report to the state welfare board detailing the welfare measures taken by it during the year. Further, it has to mention all the relevant steps taken, in order to enforce the provisions of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
The State Animal Welfare Board on receiving the report can give directions to the SPCA for further improvement in carrying out its functions.
Current Status of SPCAs in India
A number of State Governments have failed to constitute the State Animal Welfare Board as well as the SPCAs due to which the Apex Court vide order dated 06-08-2008 in a Writ Petition (Civil) No. 440 OF 2000 directed the State Governments to constitute the State Animal Welfare Boards within a period of three months and to oversee the constitution of SPCAs for each and every district. Thereafter in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 881 of 2004 vide order dated 13-07-2015, the Apex Court once again directed the State Governments to constitute SCPAs and gave a four weeks’ time for the same.
Interestingly, more than a decade has passed since the initial order but only a few states have formed the State Board for Animal Welfare and the SPCAs. Lately, Ms Gauri Maulekhi, an animal rights activist has filed a fresh writ petition in the Hon’ble Supreme Court praying the court to direct the State Governments to constitute the relevant bodies under the act.
Kindly check the relevant orders of the Apex Court hereinbelow:-
Writ Petition (Civil) No. 440 OF 2000
Order dated 06-08-2008
https://main.sci.gov.in/jonew/bosir/orderpdfold/704124.pdf
Writ Petition (Civil) No. 881 of 2004
Order dated 13-07-2015
https://main.sci.gov.in/jonew/bosir/orderpdfold/2248612.pdf
To find out more about the status of the State Animal Welfare Board as well as the SPCAs established by the state government of your home state, kindly visit the website of the Animal Husbandry Department of the concerned state. An RTI can also be filed in order to get all the relevant details including the current status of the board & the SPCAs, the name of the officers deputed by the government, the budget allocated to the board for a particular year etc.
The website links for the Animal Husbandry Department of every state are given herein below:-
