Dayanidhi Maran flags concerns about proposed Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rules, 2026; urges Centre for a review

File photo of DMK Lok Sabha member Dayanidhi Maran.

DMK Lok Sabha member Dayanidhi Maran has written to Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, urging him to review the proposed Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Control and Supervision of Experiment, Breeding and Trading of Laboratory Animals) Rules, 2026.

In his letter, Mr. Maran expressed concern over the proposed draft rules, saying that while streamlining scientific research was a legitimate objective, it must not come at the cost of weakening animal welfare safeguards or reducing independent regulatory oversight. The proposed move to allow institutional ethics committees to approve a wider range of experiments, including those involving larger animals, raised questions about accountability and the adequacy of independent scrutiny, he said.

Scientific advancement and animal welfare must be pursued together, and one must not be seen as an impediment to the other said Mr. Maran in his letter, urging the Centre to withdraw the proposed draft rules in their current form and undertake a comprehensive review in consultation with independent animal welfare experts, scientists, veterinarians, research institutions and civil society organisations.

He also called for robust independent oversight, stronger protection for wildlife and community animals, enforceable animal welfare standards, and priority for the development and adoption of validated non-animal research methods.