Mumbai: Mumbai police have registered animal cruelty offences in three separate cases in recent weeks involving the illegal use of horses, one against a horse-drawn carriage operator caught violating a Bombay High Court ban in Gamdevi, and two against organisers of unlawful horse races at Gorai beach. The actions follow interventions by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India and former union cabinet minister Maneka Gandhi.
After receiving a video from a vigilant citizen of a horse-drawn carriage being illegally operated on NS Patkar Marg in Gamdevi, PETA India sprang into action. Acting on the NGO’s complaint, the Gamdevi police registered a first information report (FIR) on May 31 against the driver and the possible owner. The operation of such carriages has been prohibited by the Bombay High Court in its order dated June 8, 2015 in Animals and Birds Charitable Trust vs. MCGM and Others.
The FIR was registered under various sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The police are currently working to locate the owner and the horse involved. Once found, the horse will be seized in accordance with the provisions of the law and the directions of the Bombay High Court. This action was followed by an FIR registered by the Colaba police against the driver and owner of another illegally operating horse-drawn carriage earlier in May.
On May 31, the Gorai police registered an FIR against individuals involved in illegally racing horses at Gorai beach on May 27, following intervention by Gandhi and PETA India. Earlier in April, the Gorai police registered an FIR after illegal horse races were conducted at Gorai beach on March 20, despite explicit permission being granted only for bullock cart races by the Mumbai Suburban district collector. The event organisers ignored the guidelines issued by the authorities and unlawfully included horse cart races.
Meet Ashar, PETA India legal advisor and director of cruelty response, said, “PETA India commends the efforts of Mumbai Police, particularly Gamdevi police station, and Mumbai Police Commissioner, Deven Bharti in directing Gorai police station to strictly implement the directions of the Bombay High Court and sending a clear message that illegal use of horses for racing or hauling carriages will not be tolerated. We urge the Mumbai Police to continue to act against any illegal use of horse carriages in the city and urge the civic body to also take swift action to prevent the illegal keeping of horses in Mumbai in unlicensed stables.”
In its complaint, PETA India highlighted that the Bombay High Court, in its 2015 judgment, not only prohibited the use of horse-drawn Victoria carriages for rides within Mumbai but also declared the keeping of horses in the city illegal, citing the absence of licensed stables under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act, 1888. As a result, the Court had directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to shut down all such facilities and instructed the Mumbai Police to enforce the ban and take appropriate action against violators.
In July 2017, the High Court had accepted the rehabilitation plan submitted by the Maharashtra government for horse-drawn carriage owners and drivers, allowing horses to be removed from Mumbai roads and drivers to receive a payment and a vendor licence, thus ensuring their livelihood. PETA India in May 2018 urged the then chief secretary of Maharashtra to implement this plan immediately by ensuring that the BMC receives the necessary funds, as approved by the state government.
