It shall be the duty of every person having the care or charge of any animal to take all reasonable measures to ensure the well-being of such animal and to prevent the infliction upon such animal of unnecessary pain or suffering.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Karnataka
Amendment of section 3.--Section 3 of the principal Act, shall be re-numbered as sub-section (1) of that section and after sub-section (1) as so renumbered, the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:--
"(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) conduct of "Kambala" or "Bulls race or Bullock cart race" shall be permitted, subject to condition that no unnecessary pain or suffering is caused to the animals, by the person incharge of that animal used to conduct "Kambala" or "Bulls race or Bullock cart race" as the case may be and subject to such other conditions as may be specified, by the State Government, by notification."
[Vide Karnataka Act 2 of 2018, s. 3].
Maharashtra
Amendment of section 3 of 59 of 1960.--Section 3 of the principal Act shall be re-numbered as sub-section (1) thereof; and after sub-section (1) as so re-numbered, the following sub-sections shall be added, namely:--
"(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the bullock cart race may be conducted with the prior permission of the Collector, subject to the condition that no pain or suffering as envisaged by or under the Act is caused to the animal by any person or person in charge of the animal used to conduct bullock cart race and subject to such other conditions as may be prescribed by rules under section 38B by the State Government.
(3) If any person or person in charge of the animals conducts bullock cart race in contravention of the conditions laid down in sub-section (2) or rules made thereunder relating to the bullock cart race or causes pain or suffering to the animal, he shall be punished with fine which may extend upto rupees five lakhs or imprisonment for a term which may extend upto three years.".
[Vide Maharashtra Act 45 of 2017, s. 3].