Glue trap ban: High Court issues notice to Gujarat government, Animal Welfare Board

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Gujarat government, state Animal Welfare Board, and the Director of Animal Husbandry on a public interest litigation alleging non-implementation of the ban on the manufacture, sale, and use of glue traps.

Glue traps are boards coated with adhesives. It is used to trap rodents such as rats, which get stuck to it while moving across the floor. Animals trapped on such boards often die a slow, painful death.

The order was passed by the Bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee.

The Bench noted that rodents caught in glue traps release hantavirus when they lose control of their bodily functions and the same can be of potential threat to humans.

The High Court further noted that the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Canada has specifically warned against their use because of the threat of hantaviruses, which were released when animals lost control of their bodily functions.

Representing the petitioner, Advocate Dharmesh C Gurjar apprised the Bench that the circular to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and use of glue traps was passed by the Gujarat State Animal Welfare Board on September 5 last year in light of section 11 (treating animals cruelly) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

He alleged that no implementation has been done to date and the traps were still being used in farms as well as industrial areas.

Noting that the PIL highlighted cruel treatment to rodents, birds, lizards, snakes, bats, squirrels and other small animals by the virtue of glue traps, which also posed disease risk to humans, the High Court observed that the issue required consideration.

It directed the Additional Government Pleader (AGP) to get the response of the Gujarat government, the State Animal Welfare Board, and the Director of Animal Husbandry over the matter.

The Bench listed the matter for further hearing on July 5.