The Delhi government is looking into the immediate health care requirements of animals and also investing in the training and skill development of veterinary personnel with the construction of a college, the Delhi High Court has said.
The high court said the state government is also seized of the threat posed by the Canine Distemper (CD) virus in animals and is actively vaccinating them for the same.
A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula said the welfare of animals is a noble cause, in line with the Directive Principle of State Policy as prescribed in the Constitution. However, the decision to prioritise the availability of the vaccine should fall within the expertise of veterinary specialists.
The petitioner said there is an absence of essential vaccines like the Canine DHPPi vaccine (Distemper Combined 9-in-1 vaccine), which exhibits a glaring deficit in modern infrastructure for animal treatment in Delhi.
The high court said the petitioner, as a devoted animal rights enthusiast, perceives the efforts taken by the authorities as inadequate, and he expects respondents to enhance healthcare facilities for animals and prioritise the availability of a specific vaccine.
“It is evident… that the Delhi government is not only addressing the immediate health-care requirements of the animals but is also investing in the training and skill development of veterinary personnel through the construction of a veterinary college,” the bench said. The Delhi government was represented through standing counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi and advocate Arun Panwar.