On Wednesday, the Gujarat High Court sought responses from the Gujarat State, its Animal Welfare Board, and the Director of Animal Husbandry regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) petition. This petition alleges the failure to enforce the ban on the production, distribution, and utilization of glue traps.

Glue traps, typically boards coated with adhesive, are employed to ensnare rodents such as rats as they traverse floors. Unfortunately, animals caught in these traps often endure a protracted and agonizing demise.

Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee highlighted that rodents ensnared in glue traps emit hantavirus when they lose control of their bodily functions. This presents a potential threat to humans.

"The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Canada, has specifically warned against their use because of the threat of hantaviruses, which are released when animals lose control of their bodily functions," the Court said.

Advocate Dharmesh C Gurjar, representing the petitioner, apprised the Court that the Gujarat State Animal Welfare Board issued a circular on September 5 last year to ban the production, sale, and utilization of glue traps. This action was taken in accordance with Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which pertains to the prohibition of cruelty towards animals.

He alleged that no implementation has been carried out to date, emphasizing that the traps continue to be utilized in farms and industrial areas. The Court mentioned that the PIL brought attention to the inhumane treatment of rodents, birds, lizards, snakes, bats, squirrels, and other small animals through the use of glue traps. Additionally, it underscored the associated risk of disease transmission to humans.

Consequently, the Court deemed the matter worthy of examination and directed the Additional Government Pleader (AGP) to obtain responses from the State government, Gujarat State Animal Welfare Board, and the Director of Animal Husbandry.