The Role of Cruelty in Animal Protection: Legal, Social, and Ethical Dimensions

The recognition and response to animal cruelty have been central to the development of animal protection laws and societal attitudes toward non-human life. This paper explores the multifaceted role of cruelty in shaping animal protection, analysing historical, legal, social, and psychological dimensions. This is a sweeping overview of the laws prevailing in India to guard animal cruelty in context of the recent Kerala Pregnant Elephant Case which occurred in May 27, 2020 wherein the elephant was succumbed to its wounds after chewing on an explosive stuffed pineapple; along with several other incidents of animal cruelty. This Research project begins with an introduction and gist of the incident before proceeding to a summary of the present state of the law. It further explains the cruelty as per CAST report by Britain's Farm Animal Welfare Council, 1965 and explores the approach led by Bhagavad Gita in reference to animal cruelty. It then concludes with a discussion of the long run of animal rights, specifically the kinds of reforms need to strengthen it.