Following FIAPO’s High Court Case, AWBI Cancels Registration of 5 Circuses and Recommends Appropriate Legislation for Welfare of Animals

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has cancelled the registration of 5 circuses namely Great Golden Circus, Ahmedabad; Asiad Circus, Kanpur; Apollo Circus, Maujpur (Delhi), Rayman Circus, Kanpur; and Nataraj Circus; Kolkata. AWBI took this action in compliance with certain directions passed by the Delhi High Court while hearing a Petition filed by the Federation for Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) in the High Court of Delhi. Argued by Sr. Advocate Mr Dayan Krishnan & Advocate Mr Ambuj Agrawal the petition seeks to rescue animals in circuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and challenging the law that permits the use of animals in circuses.

FIAPO Executive Director, Varda Mehrotra said, “It is great that the Board has finally woken up to the harsh reality of ineffectiveness of the current statutory regime when it comes to Circuses and suffering of circus animals. In modern society, there is no place for human entertainment at the cost of the suffering of animals.”

The AWBI has cancelled the registrations as during the inspection of these circuses either the circuses were not found at their registered address or if found there were no animals at the location nor the circus owners disclosed the location of the animals which are registered under The Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001. The Central Zoo Authority in November had also recommended cancelling recognition of the Great Golden Circus under Section 38-H (6) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, l972.

The AWBI in addition to cancelling the registration of these 5 circuses has also issued show-cause notices to 2 circuses for gross violation and discrepancies under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, The Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001 & Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 found during the inspection conducted as per the order of the Hon’ble Court. Further, the AWBI has also requested the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying to pass appropriate legislation considering the status of circuses under The Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001. 

The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its Judgment in the A. Nagaraja case has already held that entertainment is not an exception to the Rights and freedoms guaranteed to Animals, which include freedom from pain, fear, distress, and injury. Therefore, the use of animals in circuses should be banned urgently so that circus animal can live with honour and dignity and be treated with compassion. 

FIAPO through its campaign End Circus Suffering, since 2015, together with its member organizations & volunteers – has now rescued more than 150 animals from 13 circuses across India and has mobilized 114 activists, from 45 organizations across 18 states.