SC: ‘Abandonment of Service is Not Voluntary Retirement’, Denying SBI Clerk Pension Benefits  ||  Supreme Court: Stranger Affected by an Interim Order is Entitled to be Impleaded in Writ Proceedings  ||  Supreme Court: Courts Cannot Replace an Authority’s Discretion, and Sets Aside Direction to Governor  ||  SC: Title Suit Hit by Constructive Res Judicata if Omitted in Prior Injunction Suit Disputing Title  ||  SC Clarifies Whether a Co-Operative Society Can Act as a Resolution Applicant under the IBC  ||  Chhattisgarh High Court: Innocent Litigants Should Not be Penalized For Lapses by Their Lawyers  ||  Delhi High Court: Marriage With the Victim Cannot Absolve an Accused of Rape under POCSO  ||  J&K&L HC: Acquisition Lapses if 80% Compensation is Unpaid Before Possession under Section 17A  ||  Delhi HC: Policy Number is Not Mandatory For LIC Details under RTI, But Basic Details are Required  ||  SC: Courts Must Curb Unlicensed Money Lenders; Probes Need Not Wait For New Law    

Chua Ram Miri (Saikia) v. Commissioner of Plains Division, Assam - (High Court of Gauhati) (21 Mar 1968)

Drawing distinction between human and animal life

MANU/GH/0078/1968

Civil

Poaching and hunting animals for game has witnessed only a gradual build up in public ire. Animal life is rarely seen as equatable to human life, and ills caused to animals are not the same those perpetrated on humans. Gauhati High Court in a case involving a gun licence concluded as much in 1968. Hearing a case about the revocation of a licence to own a firearm for it being used to hunt animals, the court drew a clear line between “public peace” and “public security” and acts injuring wildlife: “‘Public peace’ or ‘Public safety’ relate to the peace and safety of the people and do not appertain to animal life”. The licence holder, simply suspected of poaching in the Kaziranga Game Sanctuary could therefore not be deprived of his licence to possess a firearm. Perhaps attitudes to violence towards an already fragile ecosystem today would illicit a different response. Or maybe discharging a firearm in any public place would supersede even that.

Relevant : Section 17 Arms Act, 1959

Tags : FIREARM   LICENCE   POACHING   PUBLIC SAFETY  

Share :        

Disclaimer | Copyright 2026 - All Rights Reserved