What happened to animals in circuses that have closed down: Delhi HC asks Animal Welfare Board

The Delhi High Court has asked the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to file an affidavit on the status of animals of circuses that have closed down. A bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Si

The Delhi High Court has asked the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to file an affidavit on the status of animals of circuses that have closed down. A bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh, which was hearing a petition by PETA (the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) India, gave three weeks to the AWBI to file the affidavit. PETA Counsel Aman Hingorani said that an affidavit filed already by the AWBI did not specifically disclose the status of such animals. "Mr. Rajesh Kumar Gogna, Advocate who appears for respondent No. 3 (AWBI) should ensure that a further affidavit is filed, disclosing the status of the said animals within the next three weeks," the court said in its order dated August 10. Last year, the court was informed by the Federation of Indian Animals Protection Organisation (FIAPO) that according to a report filed by AWBI, around 740 circus animals were registered with it, but in a survey only 28 were found.