When N. Prakash, a resident of Ernakulum in Kerala, stepped out to buy biscuits for his three cats, he was stopped by the police in the wake of the Coronavirus lockdown. After the police denied his appeal to be able to go to a nearby store, he went to the high court with his petition seeking relief.

In the petition, it was stated that Prakash feeds his cats with a biscuit named "Meo-Persian" as he is a vegetarian and non-vegetarian food cannot be cooked in his house. The petition also stated that the right to get food and shelter is a guaranteed right for domesticated animals under Sections 3 and 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Kerala High Court instantly came to the rescue of the said pet parent and petitioner  by allowing the movement of pet parents to their nearby shops for buying pet essentials. Further, animal fodder & food was then classified as an essential item.

"...we are also certain that our directions will help avert a “CATastrophe" in the petitioner’s home," stated the court's judgment, with this came a rather epic & happy closure to the case.

Source: Business Standard / India Today / Telegraph India