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The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

Central

An Act to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals and for that purpose to amend the law relating to the prevention of cruelty to animals.

Act number
59 of 1960
Ministry
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Department
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Enacted
26 Dec 1960

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

44 sections

  1. Section 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. Section 2Definitions.
  3. Section 3Duties of persons having charge of animals.
  4. Section 4Establishment of Animal Welfare Board of India.
  5. Section 5Constitution of the Board.
  6. Section 5AReconstitution of the Board.
  7. Section 6Term of office and conditions of service of members of the Board.
  8. Section 7Secretary and other employees of the Board.
  9. Section 8Funds of the Board.
  10. Section 9Functions of the Board .
  11. Section 10Power of Board to make regulations.
  12. Section 11Treating animals cruelly.
  13. Section 12Penalty for practising phooka or doom dev.
  14. Section 13Destruction of suffering animals.
  15. Section 14Experiments on animals.
  16. Section 15Committee for control and supervision of experiments on animals.
  17. Section 15ASub-committees.
  18. Section 16Staff of the Committee.
  19. Section 17Duties of the Committee and power of the Committee to make rules relating to experiments on animals.
  20. Section 18Power of entry and inspection.
  21. Section 19Power to prohibit experiments on animals.
  22. Section 20Penalties.
  23. Section 21“Exhibit” and “train” defined.
  24. Section 22Restriction on exhibition and training of performing animals.
  25. Section 23Procedure for registration.
  26. Section 24Power of court to prohibit or restrict exhibition and training of performing animals.
  27. Section 25Power to enter premises.
  28. Section 26Offences.
  29. Section 27Exemptions.
  30. Section 28Saving as respects manner of killing prescribed by religion.
  31. Section 29Power of court to deprive person convicted of ownership of animal.
  32. Section 30Presumption as to guilt in certain cases.
  33. Section 31Cognizability of offences.
  34. Section 32Power of search and seizure.
  35. Section 33Search warrants.
  36. Section 34General power of seizure for examination.
  37. Section 35Treatment and care of animals.
  38. Section 36Limitation of prosecutions.
  39. Section 37Delegation of powers.
  40. Section 38Power to make rules.
  41. Section 38ARules and regulations to be laid before Parliament.
  42. Section 39Persons authorised under section 34 to be public servants.
  43. Section 40Indemnity.
  44. Section 41Repeal of Act 11 of 1890.