Indore : Cruelty on helpless species in labs has moved the University Grants Commission (UGC) and it has completely banned dissection of animals and experiment on them in zoology and life science departments.
Three years ago, the ban was imposed on dissection of animals at undergraduate level but now it has been extended to postgraduate level also.
The UGC has recommended for use of methods like computer simulations, interactive CD-ROMs, films, charts in place of experiment on living animal.
In a recently-held meeting, the higher education regulator accepted the draft notification on minimising dissection and animal experimentation in zoology/life sciences and allied disciplines in universities and other higher educational institutions with the observations that the provisions for undergraduate should also be extended to postgraduate programmes and that no animal from any species shall be dissected either by teachers or students for any purposes at these levels.
The new guidelines will shortly be sent to universities and colleges for adoption.
Previously, the UGC in 2011 had disallowed undergraduate students from doing any dissection, but their faculty have right to use one species for demonstration purposes.
At the post-graduate level, students have the option of dissecting select species. Now, the PG students would also not have permission to dissect animals. The institutions have been advised to work on development of computer simulated as an alternative.
To encourage simulation of experiments in the institution of higher education, the UGC would allocate funds during the XII Plan for developing alternative methods of experiments.
The universities would also suggested setting up dissection-monitoring committees not only in university teaching department but also in affiliated colleges.
The ban came following concerns expressed time and again by academic community and the public about torture of animals in labs.
Maneka Gandhi citing the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, has sought a complete ban on dissection of animals.
