The State of J&K is the only one in the country which has not adopted the Indian Veterinary Act 1984. The result is extremely poor veterinary education standards and lack of genuine regulations governing Veterinary practices besides deprivation of VCI recognition to SKUAST Veterinarians. In other words for any misconduct and deviation, experimentation on animals, or failed surgeries or cruelty, AWBI cannot enforce and SKUAST is not liable to any action under VCI Rules (the touchstone of ABC Rules 2001).
So why is this important? Because SKUAST is the agency responsible for ABC programs in Kashmir under a controversial MOU, which came into effect with the ABC programs starting in SKUAST on 3 May 2012.
The ABC (Dog Rules) 2001 issued in exercise of the powers conferred by the sub-sections (1) and (2)of Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 clearly state : Section (2) Sub-section (g) : “Veterinary Doctor” means a person who holds a degree of a recognized veterinary college and is registered with the Indian Veterinary Council (VCI)
VCI All India Veterinary Entrance Bulletin 2011-2012. Even students from J&K are forbidden from taking the All India Pre-Vet Test as the State is on the negative list of VCI having refused to adopt the VCI Regulations since 1984.
Note: Students from the State of Jammu & Kashmir are not eligible to appear in this test, as that State has not adopted the provisions of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
Nationality: He/She is an Indian national. Since the provisions of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 have not been extended to the State of Jammu & Kashmir, candidates from that State shall not be eligible to appear in the said examination unless they submit an Affidavit in enclosed Proforma on Non–Judicial Stamp Paper of Rs. 10/- duly attested by Metropolitan Magistrate/First Class Judicial Magistrate to the effect that: – They are not eligible to compete for B.V.Sc. & A.H. seats in the State of Jammu & Kashmir and hence, not eligible to seek admission in Veterinary Colleges of Jammu & Kashmir and they are not domicile of Jammu & Kashmir.
The Indian Veterinary Act 1984, is the touchstone of all Veterinary education and regulation of Veterinary practices in the country. The applicability of VCI rules and the professional benchmark of the VCI registered Veterinary Doctor has been purposely spelt out and clearly defined in the ABC Rules. The aim is to enforce :
- Adherence to set VCI professional and ethical standards in the treatment of dumb animals.
- Uniformity of quality and application of standardized VCI medical procedures in surgeries like ABC.
- Invocation and application of penal VCI statute for violation of ethical or Hippocratic deviation.
The SOP of the AWBI on its website warns any Vets that it finds culpable of deviation is based on reference to VCI statute. Is the diametrically opposite departure made in the J&K MoU then justified? That is further compounded by the fact that laws and rules of J&K apply in the the MoU that the AWBI has signed with SMC and SKUAST.
