Supreme Court to Decide on the Freedom of Pet Birds

Supreme Court to hear plea questioning Gujarat High Court order on caging of birds.
The Quint
India
Updated:
A pigeon in flight. (Photo: Reuters)
A pigeon in flight. (Photo: Reuters)
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There are two types of people in the bird-loving world; people who have hanging bird cages, and people who have bird food or bird feeders in their backyards.

Do birds have the right to fly? The answer seems easy. Well, of course. But if that means caging them is a violation of their fundamental rights, you might want to take another moment to answer that.

According to a report by The Times of India, a Supreme Court bench has agreed to hear a plea questioning the validity of an order given by the Gujarat High Court in that context.

The High Court had observed that flying freely is a bird’s fundamental right and that must be respected by not caging them.

The Gujarat HC’s order came in the case in which 494 birds were seized from hawkers.

In most cases, their wings and tails were cut, cellotape was put on wings and there were rings on their legs so that they could not fly, according to a report. This is a common sight in most so-called ‘bird bazaars’.

The Supreme Court’s decision on the case will decide which one of the two pet loving people win.

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Published: 21 Nov 2015,08:50 AM IST

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