Section 17: Duties of the Committee and Power to Make Rules Relating to Experiments on Animals

Overview

Section 17 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, focuses on the responsibilities of the Committee established for overseeing animal experiments. This section outlines what the Committee *must* do to ensure animal welfare during scientific research and testing, and it also gives the Committee the power to create specific rules governing how these experiments are conducted. Essentially, it’s about setting standards and providing guidance to ensure experiments are as humane as possible.

Key Provisions

• Duties of the Committee: The Committee is responsible for supervising and monitoring how experiments on animals are carried out. This includes regularly checking establishments where experiments happen, offering advice on best practices, and making sure standards of animal care are maintained.
• Rule-Making Power: The Committee can create rules related to animal experiments, but these rules need to be approved by the Central Government. These rules can cover a wide range of things, like the types of experiments allowed, the housing and care of animals, and the qualifications of people performing the experiments.
• Oversight & Guidance: The section emphasizes the Committee’s role in providing guidance to establishments conducting experiments, ensuring they adhere to ethical and legal standards.

Practical Impact

This section impacts several groups. For scientists and research institutions, it means they must comply with the rules set by the Committee and be subject to inspection. For animal welfare organizations, it provides a mechanism for oversight and reporting of potential cruelty. For the government, it establishes a framework for regulating animal experimentation and ensuring ethical standards are met. Ultimately, it aims to protect animals used in research while allowing for scientific advancement.

Examples

• Example 1: Routine Inspection – The Committee conducts a scheduled inspection of a pharmaceutical company’s animal testing facility. They verify that the animals are housed in appropriate conditions, receive adequate veterinary care, and that the experimental procedures are being carried out according to approved guidelines.
• Example 2: New Experimental Procedure – A university wants to conduct a new type of experiment on primates. They submit their proposal to the Committee. The Committee reviews the proposal, considers the potential pain and distress to the animals, and recommends specific modifications to the experimental protocol to minimize suffering. These recommendations, once approved by the Central Government as rules, become legally binding on the university.