Chapter IX SPECIAL POWERS UNDER THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT, 1960

1. (1) When in respect of an animal an offence punishable under sub-section (1) of section 11 or section 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 has been committed, or when there is a reasonable ground for suspecting that such offence has been committed, a police officer may—
   • (a) take the animal to the Metropolitan Magistrate, or
   • (b) if the accused person so requires, take the animal to a veterinary officer specified by general or special order by the Administrator in this behalf: Provided that the police officer may, instead of taking the animal to a veterinary officer, take the animal for detention in a dispensary, or in any suitable place approved by the Administrator by general or special order and the animal shall thereupon be detained there until its production before a Metropolitan Magistrate, or
   • (c) take the animal to an infirmary appointed under section 35 of the said Act for treatment and detention therein, pending direction of a Magistrate under sub-section (2) of that section, or
   • (d) when the animal is in such physical condition that it cannot be taken to a veterinary officer or a Metropolitan Magistrate, draw up a report of the condition of the animal in the presence of two or more respectable persons describing such wound, sores, fractures, bruises, or other marks of injury as may be found on the body of the animal: Provided that the police officer may take the animal for detention in a dispensary or any suitable place approved by the Administrator by general or special order and the animal shall thereupon be detained there until its production before a Metropolitan Magistrate.
2. (2) Where an animal is detained in a dispensary, infirmary or other place under sub-section (1), the animal shall be produced before a Metropolitan Magistrate with the least possible delay and in any case within a period not exceeding three days from the date on which it was so detained.

When the animal is brought before a Metropolitan Magistrate under section 73, the Magistrate may direct the animal to be returned to the person from whose possession it was taken on such person giving security to the satisfaction of the Metropolitan Magistrate binding himself to produce the animal when required or may direct that the animal shall be sent for treatment and care to an infirmary and be detained there as provided in section 35 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960) or may make such order as he thinks fit regarding the disposal or custody or production of the animal.

The veterinary officer before whom an animal is brought under section 73 shall with all convenient speed examine the same and draw up a report of such examination and a copy of the report of such examination shall be delivered free of charge to the accused person if he applies for it.

When under section 73, a police officer takes an animal for detention in a dispensary or infirmary or other place before its production before a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Metropolitan Magistrate directs its further detention in an infirmary, sub-sections (3) to (7) (both inclusive) of section 35 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to the detention of animal (including the cost of transport, maintenance and treatment of the animal) in the dispensary, infirmary or other place.

When a police officer in good faith suspects that any animal being employed in any work or labour is, by reason of any sore, unfit to be so employed, he may require the person in charge of such animal to unsaddle or unload it for the purpose of ascertaining whether any sore exists and, if any person refuses to do so, such police officer may himself unsaddle or unload the animal or may cause the same to be unsaddled or unloaded.

Any police officer may arrest, without a warrant from a Magistrate, any person committing in his presence any offence punishable under clauses (a) to (m) (both inclusive) of sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelly to Animals Act, 1960.

The provisions of this Chapter shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.