The Delhi High Court has sought the MCD’s response on a plea seeking the seizure of horse-drawn carts or ‘tongas,’ which are prohibited from operating in the national capital.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora heard an application by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), alleging that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has failed to enforce its resolution for phasing out tongas and rehabilitating their owners.
The division bench issued a notice to the MCD regarding the application and scheduled it for August 7, coinciding with the main matter’s hearing.
The application was filed as part of an ongoing petition wherein animal rights activists seek enforcement of the January 4, 2010 resolution. This resolution by the Standing Committee of the MCD aimed to phase out tongas while acknowledging the plight of equine animals used to pull overloaded carts.
Arguments Presented
In the application, PETA’s counsel argued that tongas continue to operate freely in crowded public areas like Azadpur Mandi and Narela Old Anaj Mandi. He highlighted a letter from the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) dated March 5, revealing that three horses used for tonga rides in Azadpur Mandi tested positive for Glanders, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease to humans.
The counsel also mentioned a letter sent by the petitioner to the MCD commissioner on May 26, stressing the urgency of the matter.
PETA’s Demands
PETA sought the seizure of horse-drawn carts in accordance with the MCD’s resolution banning tongas in Delhi. Additionally, they urged the court to direct the civic agency to submit an action taken report, detailing the number of seizures made.
In a previous instance in August 2023, the court observed that, as per an MCD status report, only 58 animals and 13 carriages were seized since February 2021. It was disclosed that there were over 170 tonga license holders in Delhi, and the MCD continued to issue new licenses at an increased fee.
Consequently, the court instructed the MCD to refrain from issuing any new licenses temporarily.
