13.07.2015 Views

Full Pdf - Jindal School of Government and Public Policy

Full Pdf - Jindal School of Government and Public Policy

Full Pdf - Jindal School of Government and Public Policy

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>Jindal</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>Editors-in-Chief:C. Raj Kumar, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>and</strong> Vice Chancellor, O.P. <strong>Jindal</strong> Global UniversitySudarshan Ramaswamy,Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>and</strong> Dean, <strong>Jindal</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Government</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>Executive Editors:Aseem Prakash, Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>and</strong> Assistant Dean, <strong>Jindal</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Government</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>Swagato Sarkar, Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>and</strong> Assistant Dean, <strong>Jindal</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Government</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>Editorial Advisory Board :Daniel Bach, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor & Directeur de recherche du CNRS Centre Emile Durkheim – Science Politique etSociologie comparatives, Sciences, Université de Bordeaux, FranceSeyla Benhabib, Eugene Meyer Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Political Science <strong>and</strong> Philosophy, Yale University, USASarah Cook, Director, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, Switzerl<strong>and</strong>Leela Fernades, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Women's Studies <strong>and</strong> Political Science, University <strong>of</strong> Chicago, USAAlfredo Saad Filho, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Development Studies, <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> Oriental <strong>and</strong> African Studies,University <strong>of</strong> London, UKJean-Louis Halpérin, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Law <strong>and</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>, Ecole Normale Superieure, FranceRobert Jenkins, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Political Science, Hunter College <strong>and</strong> The Graduate Center, City University<strong>of</strong> New York, USAAmitabh Mattoo, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>and</strong> Director, Australia India Institute, University <strong>of</strong> Melbourne, AustraliaPrachi Mishra, Senior Economist, International Monetary Fund, USAMick Moore, Pr<strong>of</strong>essorial Fellow, Institute <strong>of</strong> Development Studies, UKPeter Newell, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> International Relations, University <strong>of</strong> Sussex, UKIfeanyi Prinuel Onyeonoru, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>and</strong> Director, Centre for Peace <strong>and</strong> Conflict Studies, University<strong>of</strong> Ibadan, NigeriaAseem Prakash, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Political Science, Walker Family Pr<strong>of</strong>essor for the College <strong>of</strong> Arts <strong>and</strong>Sciences, University <strong>of</strong> Washington, USAGustav Ranis, Frank Altschul Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Emeritus <strong>of</strong> International Economics, Yale University, USASanjay G. Reddy, Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, The New <strong>School</strong> for Social Research, USADani Rodrik, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> International Political Economy, Harvard University, USAGita Sen, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Indian Institute <strong>of</strong> Management, Bangalore, IndiaIan Shapiro, Sterling Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Political Science <strong>and</strong> Henry R. Luce Director, The Whitney <strong>and</strong> BettyMacMillan Center for International <strong>and</strong> Area Studies, Yale University, USAT.N. Srinivasan, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Emeritus in Economics, Yale University, USAFrances Stewart, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Emeritus in Development Economics, University <strong>of</strong> Oxford, UKArvind Virmani, Executive Director, International Monetary Fund, USA<strong>Jindal</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong> is published once a year by the <strong>Jindal</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Government</strong> <strong>and</strong><strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>.Copyright: Copyright <strong>of</strong> the published articles, including abstracts, vests in the <strong>Jindal</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong><strong>Policy</strong>. The objective is to ensue full copyright protection <strong>and</strong> to disseminate the articles, <strong>and</strong> the Journal,to the widest possible readership. Authors may <strong>of</strong> course use the article elsewhere after obtaining priorpermission from the <strong>Jindal</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Government</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>. Authors are themselves responsibleto obtain permission to reproduce copyright material from other sources.Disclaimer: The publisher <strong>and</strong> the editors cannot be held responsible for errors or any consequencesarising from the use <strong>of</strong> information contained in this Journal. The views <strong>and</strong> opinions expressed do notnecessarily reflect those <strong>of</strong> the publisher <strong>and</strong> the editors.Editorial <strong>and</strong> Business Address: Editor, <strong>Jindal</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>, <strong>Jindal</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Government</strong><strong>and</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>, O.P. <strong>Jindal</strong> Global University, Sonipat Narela Road, Near Jagdishpur Village, Sonipat,Haryana-131001, NCR <strong>of</strong> Delhi, India; Tel: (91-130) 3057911; (91-130) 3057800, Fax: (91-130)3057888/808; Email: jjpp@jgu.edu.in, website: http://www.jsgp.edu.in/content/jindal-journal-publicpolicy


JINDAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC POLICYAUGUST 2013 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2ContentsForeword 1ArticlesThe Changing Nature <strong>of</strong> the Dominant Justifications that Legitimated 4the Oppression <strong>of</strong> African–Americans in the United StatesKevin BrownLeft at the Margin 31V.S. SreedharaThe Bleaching Syndrome: Skin Colour as the Basis <strong>of</strong> 40Oppression vis-à-vis African–Americans/Dalit–IndiansRonald E. HallInclusive Development, Civil Society <strong>and</strong> Socio-economic Rights: 64Legislative Initiatives <strong>and</strong> Judicial DecisionsS. JaphetLaw <strong>and</strong> the Loss <strong>of</strong> Livelihood: The Hawadigas (Snake Charmers) 79<strong>and</strong> Qal<strong>and</strong>ars (Bear Charmers) <strong>of</strong> Karnataka, IndiaKhan Nadim Ali HaiderThe Employment <strong>and</strong> Economic Advancement <strong>of</strong> 95African–Americans in the Twentieth CenturyKenneth Glenn Dau-Schmidt <strong>and</strong> Ryl<strong>and</strong> ShermanAffirmative Action <strong>and</strong> Social Justice–Reflections 117on the Judgements <strong>of</strong> the Indian Supreme CourtVanishree Radhakrishna


84 <strong>Jindal</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>, Vol. 1, Issue 2subsistence <strong>and</strong> development; <strong>and</strong> to engage freely in all their traditional<strong>and</strong> other economic activities. Furthermore, the indigenous people areentitled to just <strong>and</strong> fair redressal where they are deprived <strong>of</strong> their means<strong>of</strong> subsistence <strong>and</strong> development. 14Indian Law <strong>and</strong> Criminalisation <strong>of</strong> Hawadigas <strong>and</strong> Qal<strong>and</strong>arsIndia has two laws <strong>and</strong> a series <strong>of</strong> rules to deal with the subject <strong>of</strong> wildlifeprotection <strong>and</strong> animal welfare. The Prevention <strong>of</strong> Cruelty to Animal Act1960 (PCAA), <strong>and</strong> The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA) are bothprohibitory <strong>and</strong> regulatory in nature. The latter prohibits <strong>and</strong> regulatesvarious trades <strong>and</strong> practices associated with certain wild animals.As far as the Hawadiga <strong>and</strong> Qal<strong>and</strong>ar communities are concerned, boththe above laws have both disabling <strong>and</strong> enabling impacts. In a nutshell,they allow the Hawadiga <strong>and</strong> Qal<strong>and</strong>ar communities to own, possess<strong>and</strong> inherit bears <strong>and</strong> snakes in a regulated manner but prohibit <strong>and</strong>punish the acquisition, possession <strong>and</strong> control <strong>of</strong> wild animals without acertificate <strong>of</strong> ownership; hunting; 15 training, exhibition <strong>of</strong> <strong>and</strong> abolition<strong>of</strong> the performer’s registration for certain animals; [meting <strong>of</strong>] crueltreatment to animals; <strong>and</strong> the human use <strong>of</strong> performing animals incertain circumstances.The WPA subjects the custody, control or possession <strong>of</strong> animals listed inSchedule I or Part II <strong>of</strong> Schedule II to a declaration <strong>of</strong> stock to the ChiefWildlife Warden 16 for getting the ownership certificate 17 <strong>and</strong> furtherprescribes a provision <strong>of</strong> prior permission <strong>of</strong> the Chief Wildlife Wardenfor continuing its acquisition, receipt, control, custody <strong>and</strong> possession<strong>and</strong> sale. 18 the WPA per se does not prohibit the custody, control <strong>and</strong>possession <strong>of</strong> wild animals. The Central <strong>Government</strong> has also enactedthe Wildlife (Stock Declaration) Central Rules, 1973, which requires adealer 19 in animals <strong>and</strong> animal articles to declare his ownership <strong>of</strong> boththe latter. 20 Interestingly, however, the indigenous communities wereinitially kept out <strong>of</strong> the coverage <strong>of</strong> these Rules. This meant that evenafter the passage <strong>and</strong> enactment <strong>of</strong> the above Rules, communities likethe Hawadigas <strong>and</strong> Qal<strong>and</strong>ars were legally entitled to continue their ageoldcustomary right to own <strong>and</strong> possess snakes <strong>and</strong> bears without anyinterference from the law <strong>and</strong> law-enforcing agencies. This situationcontinued till 2002, when the WPA was amended to limit <strong>and</strong> restrict theapplication <strong>of</strong> Sub-section 2 <strong>of</strong> Section 40, on the acquisition, receipt,control, custody <strong>and</strong> possession, <strong>and</strong> sale <strong>of</strong> any specified animals <strong>and</strong>animal articles, only by way <strong>of</strong> inheritance 21 <strong>and</strong> by way <strong>of</strong> declaration. 22


Law <strong>and</strong> the Loss <strong>of</strong> Livelihood 85It had imposed a complete closure on any move to own new animalsbut allowed their inheritance. It further exp<strong>and</strong>ed the coverage <strong>of</strong>this provision relating to declaration to everyone, including dealers aswell as the indigenous communities by allowing them a last <strong>and</strong> finalopportunity to declare under Section 40 <strong>of</strong> the Act, 23 <strong>and</strong> abated allaction <strong>and</strong> pending legal proceedings for its violation. 24 The Declaration<strong>of</strong> Wildlife Stock Rules, 2003, 25 has, for the first time, referred to localcommunities <strong>and</strong> recognised their right to continue the possession <strong>and</strong>custody <strong>of</strong> wild animals. This Rule was specifically designed to recognise,protect <strong>and</strong> ensure the right <strong>of</strong> local communities such as the Hawadigas<strong>and</strong> Qal<strong>and</strong>ars in order to facilitate the declaration <strong>and</strong> certification <strong>of</strong>wild animals. Significant m<strong>and</strong>atory duties were also imposed on theChief Wildlife Warden, including the duty to accord wide publicity<strong>and</strong> take all necessary measures to assist the local communities <strong>and</strong>individuals, especially the poor <strong>and</strong> the illiterate, in the declaration <strong>of</strong>their possessions, filling up <strong>of</strong> forms, <strong>and</strong> other such tasks, <strong>and</strong> to makeevery attempt to ensure that no individual or community associated withanimals is deprived <strong>of</strong> this opportunity. 26The WPA prohibits hunting. 27 Until 1991, the hunting <strong>of</strong> animals exceptSchedule I animals was permitted <strong>and</strong> hunting licences were issued by theChief Wildlife Warden for certain purposes, including game hunting <strong>and</strong>wildlife trapping, but this was completely prohibited afterwards 28 exceptin the case <strong>of</strong> certain specified circumstances, 29 <strong>and</strong> special purposes 30 ,with prior approval from the Chief Wildlife Warden <strong>and</strong> the <strong>Government</strong>,respectively. For the purpose <strong>of</strong> this article, it needs to be pointed out thatthe hunting (capturing) <strong>of</strong> more than 21 species <strong>of</strong> snakes including cobras<strong>and</strong> kraits 31 ; dhaman (rat snake); 32 Indian cobras including all sub-species<strong>of</strong> genus naja; 33 King Cobra; 34 <strong>and</strong> pythons 35 is prohibited. Similarly, thehunting <strong>of</strong> three species <strong>of</strong> bears is prohibited, viz. the Sloth Bear; 36 theHimalayan Brown Bear, 37 <strong>and</strong> the Himalayan Black Bear. 38Meanwhile, the Parliament too enacted the PCAA to prevent theinfliction <strong>of</strong> unnecessary pain or suffering on animals, 39 that is, ‘anyliving creature other than a human being’. 40 This law regulates humanpractices concerning all animals <strong>and</strong> penalises its contravention. Itimposes a m<strong>and</strong>atory duty on every custodian or caretaker <strong>of</strong> animal(s),to ensure the well-being <strong>of</strong> <strong>and</strong> to prevent the infliction <strong>of</strong> unnecessarypain or suffering upon animals. 41 It legalises <strong>and</strong> regulates the humanuse <strong>of</strong> animals for ‘training <strong>and</strong> exhibiting’, 42 precisely for paid publicentertainment, 43 with the prior registration <strong>of</strong> the performing animal <strong>and</strong>exhibitor. 44 It is important to note that the performing animal in questionshould not be prohibited <strong>and</strong> restricted from exhibition <strong>and</strong> training by


86 <strong>Jindal</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>, Vol. 1, Issue 2the Central <strong>Government</strong> 45 or by the magistrate on a police complaintabout the cruel treatment to performing animals during their training<strong>and</strong> performance. 46 It also penalises anyone found to be ‘treating animalscruelly’. 47The exhibition or training <strong>of</strong> bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers <strong>and</strong> lionswas prohibited <strong>and</strong> made illegal for the first time in the year 1998. 48 Theconstitutional validity <strong>of</strong> Notification No. G.S.R. 619(E), issued by theMinistry <strong>of</strong> Social Justice <strong>and</strong> Empowerment, Union <strong>of</strong> India, on 14October 1998, was challenged in various High Courts, including the Delhi<strong>and</strong> Kerala High Courts, by representatives <strong>of</strong> the circus, including the IndianCircus Federation (ICF), on the ground <strong>of</strong> violation <strong>of</strong> Articles 14, 19 (1)(g) <strong>and</strong> 21 <strong>of</strong> the CoI. The Kerala High Court 49 upheld the constitutionalvalidity <strong>of</strong> the above notification <strong>and</strong> observed that the petitioners have n<strong>of</strong>undamental right to carry on a trade or business entailing the exhibitionor trading <strong>of</strong> animals covered by the notification. Its impact on any <strong>of</strong> therights under clause (1) <strong>of</strong> Article 19 <strong>of</strong> 21 is merely incidental, indirect,remote or collateral. There is a direct <strong>and</strong> proximate nexus between theprohibition <strong>of</strong> training <strong>and</strong> exhibition <strong>of</strong> the specified animals <strong>and</strong> theobject sought to be achieved as stated in the preamble to the Act, that is,the prevention <strong>of</strong> infliction <strong>of</strong> unnecessary pain <strong>and</strong> suffering on animals.Thus, the anvil <strong>of</strong> Article 19 or 21 would not be available for judging itsinvalidity. The result, therefore, is that the notification is not liable to bestruck down on the ground <strong>of</strong> violation <strong>of</strong> the fundamental right underArticle 19(1) (g) <strong>of</strong> the Constitution <strong>of</strong> India. Further, the Court observedthat the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 does protect livelihood,but its application cannot be extended or stretched to any trade, businessor avocation which is injurious to public interest or has an insidious effecton public morals or public order. Accordingly, the submission based onArticle 21 was rejected. The above order <strong>of</strong> the Kerala High Court wasupheld by the Supreme Court <strong>of</strong> India. 50 The latter has observed that inthe exercise <strong>of</strong> judicial review, neither the High Court nor the SupremeCourt can go into the correctness <strong>of</strong> the decision <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Government</strong> inissuing the said notification <strong>and</strong> categorically maintained that despite theprohibition <strong>of</strong> exhibition <strong>and</strong> training <strong>of</strong> the above animals, the PCAAdoes not prevent the owner from keeping them as domestic pets.In a case where the application <strong>of</strong> this notification was discussed bythe Karnataka High Court, a ban was sought on the exhibition <strong>of</strong> allperforming animals in the state <strong>of</strong> Karnataka under the PCAA. TheKarnataka High Court had termed the <strong>Public</strong> Interest Litigation (PIL)concerned as a misconceived litigation <strong>and</strong> emphasised that “nothingcould prevent a person duly registered under PCAA to exhibit <strong>and</strong> train


Law <strong>and</strong> the Loss <strong>of</strong> Livelihood 89(> 16 per cent), the action was led by animal rights groups in the presence<strong>of</strong> the police. This clearly means that in 80 per cent <strong>of</strong> the cases, theentire action against the snake charmers was launched by the animal rightsgroups alone, without the involvement <strong>of</strong> either the police or the forestdepartment, <strong>and</strong> those taking action did not resort to any legal process atall.Legality <strong>of</strong> Search, Seizure, Confinement <strong>and</strong>Restraint <strong>and</strong> Use <strong>of</strong> Physical ForceThe carrying, training <strong>and</strong> exhibiting <strong>of</strong> snakes per se are not illegal orviolative <strong>of</strong> the WPA <strong>and</strong> PCAA. The ownership <strong>of</strong> snakes or any otherwild animals is regulated <strong>and</strong> the declaration <strong>of</strong> possession <strong>and</strong> ownership,registration <strong>and</strong> certification <strong>of</strong> such animals are necessary conditions asper the provisions <strong>of</strong> the WPA. Similarly, the training <strong>and</strong> exhibiting <strong>of</strong>snakes is legally allowed under the PCAA, provided the snakes are notbeing subjected to any cruelty <strong>and</strong> pain.At the first instance, the question <strong>of</strong> proving the legality or illegality <strong>of</strong> search,seizure, confinement <strong>and</strong> restraint, <strong>and</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> physical force comesinto the picture only when the performers or snake charmers are found tobe carrying snakes <strong>and</strong> inflicting pain on the captive snakes. Interestingly,it needs to be emphasised here that out <strong>of</strong> the thirty reported incidentsduring the past three years, only nineteen (around 65 per cent <strong>of</strong> the total)performers were found to be carrying snakes while the remaining eleven(around 35 per cent <strong>of</strong> the total) performers were not carrying snakes whileexhibiting their street shows. All the eleven performers were just showingtheir magic tricks on the streets but were still subjected to harassment <strong>and</strong>violence. In all the thirty cases, the magic kits <strong>and</strong> props <strong>of</strong> the performerswere seized by the police <strong>and</strong> animal rights groups, irrespective <strong>of</strong> whetheror not they found snakes in the possession <strong>of</strong> the performers.In all the five cases wherein the police were directly or indirectly involved<strong>and</strong> the snake charmers were arrested <strong>and</strong> sent to judicial custody, thecopies <strong>of</strong> the FIR were given to the accused; they were also not allowed tocontact their respective families; The inventory/memo <strong>of</strong> the items seizedfrom the performers, viz. their magic kits <strong>and</strong> musical instruments, amongother things, were also not given to them nor were the seized materialsreturned to them. The guidelines laid down in DK Basu case 55 were thusutterly ignored by the police while acting against these snake charmers.The PCAA requires non-governmental organisations (NGOs) <strong>and</strong> privateindividuals to give written complaints about the cruelty inflicted on the


90 <strong>Jindal</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>, Vol. 1, Issue 2snakes but the former are not allowed to search the belongings <strong>of</strong> thesnake charmers, or to seize their snakes, or release them in the wild/forest, or even to confine/restrain the snake charmers. The police canonly make enquiries <strong>and</strong> forward the matter to the competent Magistrate,who may order the prohibition <strong>of</strong> training <strong>and</strong> exhibition <strong>of</strong> the snakes inaccordance with Section 24 <strong>of</strong> the PCAA, after giving the snake charmersan opportunity <strong>of</strong> being heard. In relation to the seizure <strong>and</strong> forfeiture<strong>of</strong> the snakes, according to the PCAA, 56 the owner <strong>of</strong> the animal can bedeprived either permanently or for a fixed time period, <strong>of</strong> the custody <strong>of</strong>the animal by an order <strong>of</strong> a Court only on conviction. The police can onlyseize the animal to produce it before a magistrate or a veterinary <strong>of</strong>ficerfor examination. 57It is noteworthy that no complaint has ever been lodged against theanimal rights activists by the snake charmers. The reasons for the latternot initiating any action against the activists could be the prevalence <strong>of</strong>extreme poverty, illiteracy, lack <strong>of</strong> awareness about laws, or wrong ormisleading knowledge <strong>of</strong> laws, in general, <strong>and</strong> particularly, due to the fear<strong>of</strong> both police <strong>and</strong> animal rights groups that they might be implicated infalse cases <strong>and</strong> arrested or jailed <strong>and</strong> that they would face more harassment<strong>and</strong> violence at the h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the police.Conclusion <strong>and</strong> Way ForwardIt can thus be concluded that though once respected, the Hawadiga <strong>and</strong>Qal<strong>and</strong>ar communities today face the perpetual stigma <strong>of</strong> criminality <strong>and</strong>complete loss <strong>of</strong> identity, <strong>and</strong> find no space in the national economy,except as unskilled casual labourers <strong>and</strong> beggars, as though they are waitingfor their own extinction. The present socio-economic condition <strong>and</strong> theexclusion <strong>of</strong> both the Hawadiga <strong>and</strong> Qal<strong>and</strong>ar communities in the scope<strong>of</strong> the WPA <strong>and</strong> PCAA raise serious concerns <strong>and</strong> questions aroundthese laws, their selective interpretation <strong>and</strong> implementation, <strong>and</strong> theaccountability <strong>of</strong> the institution <strong>of</strong> law. Both the laws mentioned aboveare inherently exclusionary <strong>and</strong> discriminatory against the Hawdigas <strong>and</strong>Qal<strong>and</strong>ars, as they negate the very essence <strong>of</strong> the human rights approach,that is, encouraging the participation <strong>and</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> vulnerable groups.They violate the right to promote, preserve <strong>and</strong> practise culture <strong>and</strong> theright to restitution <strong>and</strong> rehabilitation under the UNDRIP. The function<strong>of</strong> the law, in general, is not to criminalise but to reform, redress <strong>and</strong>rehabilitate. In contrast, the wildlife law <strong>and</strong> animal welfare laws in Indiahave been used largely to criminalise the traditional communities thoughit is inexplicable as to why the same laws have not been used to reform,redress <strong>and</strong> rehabilitate the communities concerned.


Law <strong>and</strong> the Loss <strong>of</strong> Livelihood 91Moreover, there is also a serious lack <strong>of</strong> will to implement the law in theright spirit. The law is clear in terms <strong>of</strong> providing a last opportunity to thelast generations <strong>of</strong> the two communities to carry out their traditional ways<strong>of</strong> life. Despite this, why has the community not been sensitised <strong>and</strong> madeaware about the law <strong>and</strong> the process <strong>of</strong> certification that would enablethem to continue with their traditional right to possess snakes <strong>and</strong> bears?Why have the enabling provisions <strong>of</strong> the Declaration <strong>of</strong> Wildlife StockRules, 2003, not been used to allow the community to avail <strong>of</strong> <strong>and</strong> securetheir traditional rights? On the contrary, the same provisions have beenselectively used to strip these communities <strong>of</strong> their traditional rights topossess snakes <strong>and</strong> bears. The seizure <strong>of</strong> snakes <strong>and</strong> bears is, in fact, an act<strong>of</strong> deception, as both the <strong>Government</strong> <strong>and</strong> the concerned animal rightsgroups have made no effort to implement the Rule <strong>of</strong> 2003. Despite thefact that the ban on training <strong>and</strong> exhibition <strong>of</strong> bears does not apply tothe Qal<strong>and</strong>ar community, its members have been routinely harassed <strong>and</strong>persecuted for practising their traditional occupation. The law prescribesa process <strong>of</strong> search <strong>and</strong> seizure wherein the power to do so vests withthe police <strong>and</strong> not with the animal rights groups. Does this not makethe intervention <strong>of</strong> the latter illegal, thereby leading to the violation <strong>of</strong>conservation <strong>and</strong> animal welfare laws? What is the justification <strong>of</strong> the use<strong>of</strong> force <strong>and</strong> violence against the indigenous communities while they areperforming their traditional vocations? Is this not antithetical to the basictenets <strong>of</strong> human rights? It appears that arbitrariness is the only rule when itcomes to the application <strong>of</strong> the law to protect the interests <strong>of</strong> the poor <strong>and</strong>weaker communities like the Hawadigas <strong>and</strong> Qal<strong>and</strong>ars. The <strong>Government</strong>has also done very little to respect its international commitment towardsthe restitution <strong>and</strong> rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> these communities.A larger question must also be raised regarding the schematic approach<strong>of</strong> the <strong>Government</strong> to the issue <strong>of</strong> rehabilitation, in general. Can the<strong>Government</strong> ever restore their respect, dignity <strong>and</strong> identity, or can it eithercreate a new dignified identity for them instead <strong>of</strong> subjecting them to theidentity <strong>of</strong> poor Muslims, beggars, unorganised labourers <strong>and</strong> so on?The traditional communities are trapped in the duality <strong>and</strong> become victims<strong>of</strong> the conflict <strong>of</strong> rights versus rights. Therefore, what is needed is a prudentapproach in order to balance the wildlife conservation <strong>and</strong> animal welfarelaws with the right <strong>of</strong> the indigenous communities <strong>of</strong> snake charmers <strong>and</strong>bear charmers to an identity, dignity, <strong>and</strong> the life <strong>and</strong> livelihood they havebeen used to for generations. The recognition <strong>of</strong> the cultural rights <strong>of</strong> thesecommunities in line with India’s international obligations under UNDRIPis also <strong>of</strong> utmost importance. Further, the ambiguity <strong>of</strong> laws, particularlythe WPA, PCAA <strong>and</strong> the Notification <strong>of</strong> 1998, should be countered by the


92 <strong>Jindal</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>, Vol. 1, Issue 2categorical exemption <strong>of</strong> the traditional communities from its ambit <strong>and</strong>by the initiation <strong>of</strong> a fresh process <strong>of</strong> stock declaration <strong>and</strong> registration <strong>of</strong>wild animals in line with the Rule <strong>of</strong> 2003.The Scheduled Tribes <strong>and</strong> Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition <strong>of</strong>Forest Rights) Act, 2006, recognises the cultural <strong>and</strong> economic rights <strong>of</strong>the Scheduled Tribes (STs) <strong>and</strong> forest dwellers, but there is a completelegal vacuum as far as the recognition <strong>and</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> the cultural<strong>and</strong> economic rights <strong>of</strong> the traditional <strong>and</strong> nomadic <strong>and</strong> semi-nomadiccommunities are concerned. The enactment <strong>of</strong> a similar legislation torecognise <strong>and</strong> protect the cultural <strong>and</strong> economic rights <strong>of</strong> nomadic tribesalong with a robust rehabilitation scheme covering all the rights <strong>and</strong> needs<strong>of</strong> the community, including their education, livelihood, health, shelter <strong>and</strong>affirmative action would prove to be a milestone in ameliorating their lowsocio-economic status.Notes1Keshwan<strong>and</strong>a Bharati vs. State <strong>of</strong> Kerala, AIR 1973 SC 1461.2Article 48A, CoI, Inserted by 42 Amendment Act, 1976.3Article 51A (g), CoI, Inserted by 42 Amendment Act, 1976.4Item No. 17B, List III, Schedule 7, CoI, Inserted by 42 Amendment Act, 1976.5Item No. 17, List III, Schedule 7, CoI, Inserted by 42 Amendment Act, 1976.6Article 243W r/w, Item Nos. 8 <strong>and</strong> 15 <strong>of</strong> Schedule XII, CoI, Inserted by 42 AmendmentAct, 1976.7General Assembly Resolution No. 61/295, Adopted on 13 September 2007.8Article 11, UNDRIP.9Article 26, UNDRIP.10Article 11 UNDRIP.11Article 26, UNDRIP.12Article 31, UNDRIP.13Article 31, UNDRIP.14Article 20, UNDRIP.15Section 2(16), WPA, “Hunting” includes: (a) capturing, killing, poisoning, snaring, <strong>and</strong>trapping <strong>of</strong> any wild animal <strong>and</strong> every attempt to do so, (b) driving any wild animal forany <strong>of</strong> purposes specified in sub-clause, (c) injuring or destroying or taking any part <strong>of</strong>the body <strong>of</strong> any such animal, or in the case <strong>of</strong> wild birds or reptiles, damaging the eggs <strong>of</strong>such birds or reptiles, or disturbing the eggs or nests <strong>of</strong> such birds or reptiles.16Section 40(1), WPA.17Section 42, WPA.18Section 40 (2), WPA.19Section 2 (11), WPA: “dealer” means any person who carries on the business <strong>of</strong> buying<strong>and</strong> selling any captive animal, animal article, trophy, uncurled trophy, [meat or specifiedplant].20Rule 2, the Wildlife (Stock Declaration) Central Rules, 1973.


Law <strong>and</strong> the Loss <strong>of</strong> Livelihood 9321Section 40 (2A), WPA, As amended by Section 25 <strong>of</strong> the Wildlife Protection AmendmentAct, 2002.22Section 40 (2B), WPA, As amended by Section 25 <strong>of</strong> the Wildlife Protection AmendmentAct, 2002.23Section 40A (1), WPA, As amended by Section 26 <strong>of</strong> the Wildlife Protection AmendmentAct, 2002.24Section 40A (2), WPA, As amended by Section 26 <strong>of</strong> the Wildlife Protection AmendmentAct, 2002.25Notification No. SO 445 (E), dated 18 April 2003, Union Ministry <strong>of</strong> Environment <strong>and</strong>Forests, <strong>Government</strong> <strong>of</strong> India.26Rule 3, the Declaration <strong>of</strong> Wild Life Stock Rules, 2003.27Section 2(16), WPA.28Section 9, WPA, As amended in 1991, prohibited hunting <strong>of</strong> all animals listed in SchedulesI–IV <strong>of</strong> WPA.29Section 11, WPA, As amended in 1991.30Section 12, WPA, As amended in 1991.31Listing No. 12(iv), Schedule IV, WPA,32Listing 9, Schedule II, Part II, WPA.33Listing 11, Schedule II, Part II, WPA.34Listing 12, Schedule II, Part II, WPA.35Listing 14A, Schedule 1, Part II, WPA.36Listing No. 5, Schedule II, Part II, WPA.37Listing No. 2, Schedule II, Part II, WPA.38Listing No. 2A, Schedule II, Part II, WPA.39Preamble, PCAA.40Section 2(a), PCAA.41Section 3, PCAA.42Section 21, PCAA.43Rule 2(h), Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2000.44Rule 3, Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2000.45Section 22, PCAA.46Section 24, PCAA.47Section 11, PCAA: ‘Treating an animal cruelly’—Beating, kicking, over-riding, driving, loading,torturing or causing unnecessary pain or suffering; employing any animal who is unfit forthe work due to its physical condition, age, infirmity, disease, etc.; administering any injuriousdrug or substance; carrying any animal in a manner causing unnecessary pain or suffering;keeping or confining in cage or other receptacle, restricting its movement; keeping chained byshort or heavy chain or cord; failure to provide adequate food, drink or shelter; or mutilatingor killing in any other unnecessarily cruel manner amount to cruelty against animals, <strong>and</strong> arepunishable with a fine <strong>of</strong> Rs. 10 to Rs. 50 for the first <strong>of</strong>fence <strong>and</strong> Rs. 25 to Rs. 100 <strong>and</strong>/orimprisonment up to three months for subsequent <strong>of</strong>fences.48Notification No. G.S.R. 619(E), issued by Ministry <strong>of</strong> Social Justice <strong>and</strong> Empowerment,Union <strong>of</strong> India, on 14 October 1998.49Balakrishnan vs. Union <strong>of</strong> India, High Court <strong>of</strong> Kerala [Order Dated 06.06.2000].50N.R. Nair <strong>and</strong> Others vs. Union <strong>of</strong> India <strong>and</strong> Others; AIR 2001 SC 2337.51People for Animals vs. The State <strong>of</strong> Karnataka <strong>and</strong> Others, 2001(1) KCCR 175.52Section 21, PCAA.53Jadugar An<strong>and</strong> vs. State <strong>of</strong> MP <strong>and</strong> Others, 2003(1) MPHT297, 2003(1) MPLJ 231.


94<strong>Jindal</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>, Vol. 1, Issue 254Around two years back, one Hawadiga Syed Ameer, along with his friend, was exhibitinga street show at Jadahalli Cross, Bangalore, when they were interrupted by a person, supposedlyfrom an animal rights group. They allowed him to search all their belongings. Heleft the place <strong>and</strong> came back with a few policemen <strong>and</strong> assembled a crowd <strong>and</strong> instigatedthe crowd by calling the Hawadigas poachers. They were beaten mercilessly with sticksby the crowd led by him in the presence <strong>of</strong> the police, which resulted in Ameer’s h<strong>and</strong>getting fractured. The crowd tore down their clothes, blackened their faces <strong>and</strong> paradedthem in underwears in the entire vicinity. They were kept naked in the open ground formore than six hours. Later, the policemen drove them away in their naked condition aftertaking their clothes, magic kit, snakes <strong>and</strong> money.55D.K. Basu vs. State <strong>of</strong> West Bengal; AIR 1997 SC 610.56Section 29, PCAA.57Section 34, PCAA.ReferenceKumar, Ajith <strong>and</strong> Khan Nadim Ali Haider. 2011. “Law <strong>and</strong> Loss <strong>of</strong> Livelihood: The Hawadigas<strong>and</strong> Qal<strong>and</strong>ars <strong>of</strong> Karnataka”, A study report published by the Centre for Study <strong>of</strong>Social Exclusion <strong>and</strong> Inclusive <strong>Policy</strong>, National Law <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> India University, Bangalore,September.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!