PETA’s plea: Celebrities, politicians, scientists sign against Centre’s draft on animal cruelty rules

Celebrities, politicians, and scientists in New Delhi opposed draft animal cruelty rules for laboratory animals, fearing weakened animal protection safeguards. PETA India stated that over 18,000 people, including actors John Abraham, Tabu, and Hema Malini, along with parliamentarians and scientists, signed the appeal seeking the withdrawal of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Control and Supervision of Experiment, Breeding and Trading of Laboratory Animals) Rules, 2026. The proposed rules aim to replace the Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules, 1998, by introducing institutional self-regulation for pharmaceutical, medical, and academic research. The Government stated that the draft rules strengthen ethical accountability and invited objections and suggestions until November 5. PETA India alleged that the proposal could increase the capture and use of protected wildlife for experiments, permit community dogs and cats in laboratories, and dilute oversight by the Central Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA). PETA India’s science and research policy advisor Dr Noopur Jain said, “We must build on this progress, not move backward.”

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The Hindu

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PETA’s plea: Celebrities, politicians, scientists sign against Centre’s draft on animal cruelty rules

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More in Animal Experimentation

‘Self approval, self policing’: PETA India’s Anjana Aggarwal tears into govt’s draft rules on animal testing

‘Will take India backwards’: Surat Parvatam urges Centre to reconsider proposed rules on animal testing

Call to reduce laboratory animal use is not driven by ethics alone

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