KATHMANDU, Feb 12: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the authorities to ensure the rights of animals and formulate rules to stop cruelty against animals.

Acting on a public interest litigation, a division bench of justices Meera Khadka and Tej Bahadur KC issued a mandamus order directing the authorities to devise rules prohibiting cruel acts against domestic animals.

The bench handed down the verdict in response to the petition lodged by advocates Padam Shrestha and Shatkon Shrestha.

"Formulate necessary rules in this regard to ensure the rights of animals and to stop cruelty against animals as demanded by the petitioners," the bench directed the defendant authorities.

Citing the cruelty that the animals including chickens, buffaloes and goats among others are subjected to while being transported on vehicles, the petitioners sought the apex court's intervention to end the cruel behavior.

The petitioners had mentioned the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Livestock and quarantine authorities as defendants in the petition stating that the authorities have not been following the international norms on animal welfare.

 
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