Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday asked the state government’s department of animal husbandry to present a comprehensive welfare policy for the care and protection of 150-200 horses affected by the ban on horse-drawn Victoria carriages. The court asked the state to come up with a detailed policy within three months.
A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a PIL filed by Animal and Birds Charitable Trust, a city-based NGO, which had sought a ban on Victoria carriages.
In June 2015, the HC had banned the use of horse carriages in the city for joy rides and had directed the BMC to ensure implementation of the order. It had also asked the state to frame a comprehensive policy to rehabilitate the horse, Victoria carriage owners and drivers, who lost their livelihood due to the ban.
On Thursday, the government told the HC that it had come up with a rehabilitation policy. The Victoria carriage owners and drivers would be eligible for a vendor license under the “Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Maharashtra Scheme)”.A sum of Rs 3 lakh would be given to them as financial help. Additional government pleader Milind More told the HC that “the rehabilitation policy would cost around Rs 2-3 crore and the government is ready for it.” As far as horses are concerned, the affidavit has said that the owners could either sell their horses or give them to NGOs.
Timeline for Victoria ban
June 2015: The Bombay HC ordered a ban on all horse-drawn Victoria carriages in the city.
June 2017: The state government formulates rehabilitation policy for carriage owners and drivers, who lost their source of livelihood due to ban.
Rehabilitation policy
- Victoria carriage drivers would be given a vendor’s license to earn their livelihood .
- State will provide financial help of '3 lakh to drivers and owners of the carriages
- Animal husbandry department will plan comprehensive policy for the horses.
