Delhi govt to constitute 13 SPCAs, dissolve current body

Delhi will establish SPCAs in all 13 districts, replacing the current body to enhance animal protection law enforcement, says Chief Minister Gupta.

The Delhi government will constitute Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) in all 13 revenue districts of the Capital, dissolving and replacing the single body that currently oversees the matter, officials said on Thursday.

The decision, which follows the recent reorganisation of revenue districts, aims to ensure more effective implementation of animal protection laws at the district level, said chief minister Rekha Gupta. (Representative photo)

The decision, which follows the recent reorganisation of revenue districts, aims to ensure more effective implementation of animal protection laws at the district level, said chief minister Rekha Gupta.

“These SPCAs will function under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and will include experts and members associated with animal welfare,” she said. The separately functioning Delhi Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) will be dissolved.

The 13 SPCAs will be headed by the respective district magistrate (DM) and, as a result, cases of animal cruelty will be addressed more swiftly, with better monitoring, and coordination on the ground, she said.

According to officials, the plan will be implemented after the file, sent to Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, is approved.

The Animal Welfare Board will serve as the apex body overseeing the entire framework at the state level, officials said. It will monitor the implementation of laws and provide technical and financial support to the bodies, significantly enhancing their capacity.

Gupta said this combined framework will not only strengthen institutional mechanisms but also deliver tangible improvements in animal welfare outcomes across the Capital. “Protecting animals is a mark of a sensitive and responsible society,” she said.

The Delhi Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), which runs a veterinary hospital and infirmary at Tis Hazari, rescues and treats abandoned and injured animals while promoting public awareness.

The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled in the Assembly in the recently concluded Budget Session, said that enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, in the city had been intensified.

In 2024–25, authorities issued 494 challans, rescued 10,581 animals and seized 78 vehicles, collecting over ₹6.44 lakh in penalties; while the SPCA infirmary treated 703 animals.

In the 2025-26 financial year (up to March 2026), 64 challans were issued, 3,732 animals rescued and 32 vehicles seized, generating ₹3.08 lakh in revenue. 288 animals received treatment at the infirmary.