New Delhi: Several celebrities, politicians, scientists, veterinarians and animal welfare organisations have raised concerns over the proposed Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Control and Supervision of Experiment, Breeding and Trading of Laboratory Animals) Rules, 2026, with more than 18,000 people signing a petition seeking its withdrawal, according to PETA India.
Actors John Abraham, Tabu, Hema Malini, Raveena Tandon, Shilpa Shetty, Jacqueline Fernandez, Dia Mirza, Wamiqa Gabbi and cricketer KL Rahul has also endorsed the appeal, PETA India said in a statement. Several parliamentarians across political parties, including MPs Hema Malini, Sulata Deo, Dr Mohammad Jawed and former Union minister Renuka Chowdhury, have also signed the appeal, it added. The appeal has also received support from more than 100 Indian and international scientists, over 100 veterinarians and more than 60 animal protection organisations, while over 18,000 people have signed a petition through PETA India’s website, the statement said.
The proposal seeks to replace the Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules, 1998. It seeks to reduce bureaucratic delays and fast-track approvals of pharmaceutical, medical, and academic research through institutional self-regulation. According to the government, the draft rules actively strengthen animal welfare and ethical accountability while modernising scientific research. It has invited objections and suggestions till November 5. But PETA India claims that the proposed rules, if notified in their present form, could weaken existing safeguards for animals used in laboratory experiments. It added that the provisions could increase the capture and use of protected wildlife for experiments and allow community dogs and cats to be used in laboratories under specified circumstances.
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