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The Kerala High Court had held that the individual has the right to rear pets is considered as a Fundamental Right to Privacy under Article 21 of Constitution of India. The petitioner of the case on seeking the vehicle pass for buying food for his cat was decided as a fundamental right by the High Court of Kerala. The petitioner claimed himself to be a vegetarian and does not cook non-vegetarian food inside his house. He also claimed that his cat was in need of food which he prefers a particular brand thus the cause of action arose while seeking the vehicle permission for buying cat food. The divisional bench comprising of Justice AK Jayashankaran Nambiar and Justice Shaji P Chaly noted that right to life of animals was made in the matter of Animal Welfare Board of India V. A Nagaraja which was dealt by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The bench also noted that the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation of Animal Health of which, India is a member recognises five freedoms for animals which has to be followed. Justice Chaly also mentioned that the petitioner has the right to remain vegetarian, right to rear cats, right to feed them with particular food brand which was his right to privacy under Article 21. It was also held by the apex court that the above-mentioned guidelines by WHO are also traceable under sections 3 to 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. in the aforementioned Nagaraja(supra), the Supreme Court had reinterpreted on recognizing the dignity in animals to live lives free from cruelty. The court also observed the fact of “animal feed and fodder” are recognizing as an essential item in this national lockdown. In conclusion the court held, “while we are happy to have come to the aid of the felines in this case, we are also certain that our directions will help avert a "CATastrophe" in the petitioner's home”
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