Jharkhand Prohibits Use, Sale, Manufacture and Trade of Spiked Bits Used to Control Horses Following PETA India’s Appeal

Following an appeal from PETA India, the director of animal husbandry cum member secretary of the state animal welfare board of Jharkhand has directed all animal husbandry officer cum member secretary of the district animal cruelty prevention committees to take action to stop the use, sale, manufacture, and trade of illegal spiked bits—cruel devices used to control horses through pain and suffering. PETA India’s appeal referenced a directive from the central government body, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which urged all states and union territories to prohibit the trade, manufacture, and possession of these cruel devices.

Spiked bits sink deep into horses’ mouths and cut their lips and tongues, causing extreme pain and lifelong damage. Rule 8 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animals Rules, 1965, framed under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, prohibits the use of “any spiked stick or bit, harness or yoke with spikes, knobs or projections or any sharp tackle or equipment”, yet spiked bits are commonly used to control horses forced to work at weddings, give rides, haul carriages, and lug goods.

Recently, the governments of Nagaland, Madhya Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Ladakh, Rajasthan and Meghalaya also issued letters urging action on PETA India’s request to prohibit the use, manufacture, and trade of spiked bits. 

PETA India has conducted enforcement actions with police, including in Agra, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jaipur, Maharashtra, Mysore, Amritsar, Mohali and Panchkula, seizing more than 1000 spiked bits in recent months.