Haryana High Court Declares Animals As ‘Legal Persons’ & Citizens Their 'Guardians'

A similar judgement had also been passed by the Uttarakhand High Court about an year ago.

Animal abuse is one of the most vicious and overlooked forms of cruelty that we witness in our lives. To counter this cruelty, animal rights activists across the world have been rallying cry to grant them the same legal rights as human beings so their perpetrators can be punished with more stringent laws. Thus, in an attempt to protect and promote greater welfare of animals, the Haryana High Court has now issued a decree that would humanise these animals by giving them the legal status of a ‘person’.

The decision is being hailed as a monumental landmark in animal rights history as it would protect these innocent creatures from violence and unfair treatment by humans. The court while declaring its decision stated that, “The animals should be healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behavior without pain, fear and distress. They are entitled to justice. The animals cannot be treated as objects or property.” The verdict would also issue a prescribed load that draught animals would be allowed to carry while pulling a vehicle.

It is no coincidence that the judge - Justice Rajiv Sharma - who issued this decree is also the person behind the passing of a similar judgement by the Uttarakhand High Court last year. Justice Sharma signed the verdict with a ‘live and let live’ motto and honoured the state residents to become the 'loco parentis' aka guardians of these animals.