TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The Delhi High Court has recently intervened in response to concerns over the rampant use of Oxytocin in dairy colonies in the national capital. The court deemed the administration of Oxytocin to cattle as a form of animal cruelty, as it forces milk let-down and artificially boosts milk production.
EXPLANATION:
- Oxytocin, known as the ‘love hormone,’ was banned by the Central government in April 2018 due to its misuse in milch cattle.
- The ban aimed to curb the practice of artificially increasing milk yield in cows, which not only harmed the health of the cattle but also posed risks to consumers of the milk.
Directive for Action Against Oxytocin Misuse
- In its order, the High Court directed the Department of Drugs Control, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), to conduct weekly inspections to identify cases of spurious Oxytocin usage or possession.
- These cases are to be registered under relevant sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
- The court further mandated that jurisdictional police stations investigate these offenses.
- The Intelligence Department of Delhi Police was tasked with identifying sources of spurious Oxytocin production, packaging, and distribution and taking appropriate legal action.
Concerns over Dairy Colony Conditions
- The High Court expressed concerns over the conditions of dairy colonies in Delhi, noting that they lacked proper infrastructure and were situated in areas with inadequate facilities.
- It particularly highlighted the need to relocate dairies located near Sanitary Landfill Sites (SLFs) due to potential health hazards posed by feeding on hazardous waste.
Rehabilitation and Relocation of Dairy Colonies
- The court emphasized the urgency of rehabilitating and relocating dairy colonies, especially those near SLFs, to ensure public health and animal welfare.
- It identified nine designated dairy colonies in Delhi, with specific attention to the Ghazipur and Bhalaswa dairies, urging immediate action in their relocation.
Government Response and Future Proceedings
- Before issuing any directives, the court sought input from relevant officials on the implementation of its orders.
- It directed key authorities, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Chief Secretary of GNCTD, and officials from various departments, to join the proceedings and explore possibilities for relocating dairies to suitable locations.
Oxytocin:
- Oxytocin is a natural hormone that causes the uterus to contract.
- Oxytocin is used to induce labor or strengthen labor contractions during childbirth, and to control bleeding after childbirth.
- The move to ban has been necessitated by its widespread misuse in the dairy and poultry sector, where it was used to increase milk secretion and production.
- It is misused on young girls to induce puberty.
- Oxytocin was first isolated and its structure identified in the 1950s, for which Vincent du Vigneaud was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1955.
- Synthetic forms of oxytocin, such as Pitocin, are commonly used in medical settings to induce or speed up labor and delivery.