Dehradun, July 4: The Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday accorded a legal status to the entire animal kingdom - the entire wildlife, birds and aquatic beings. The court said the animals would have the rights of a 'living person' and can be represented legally by a custodian.

The ruling came from a bench headed by Justices Rajiv Sharma and Lok Pal Singh. The verdict was issued in response to a public interest litigation which pointed towards the cruelty subjected to the horses used for commutation from Champawat district to neighbouring Nepal. The petitioner said "old horses" used to ride the carts, and their owners "abandoned them to die after they fall sick".

The bench said horses, as well as other animals, cannot be merely treated as "properties". The rights of the animals need to be respected by their owners, as well as general populace, the court added.

The order to accord legal entity to the animal kingdom was justified by the court under Article 21 of the Constitution, which safeguards life. The bench said 'life' also includes animal life.

Citing a 2014 Supreme Court judgement, the Uttarakhand HC order said it is necessary to protest the "basic environment, which includes all forms of life, including animals life, which are necessary for human life."

The same court, in March last year, had declared the rivers Ganga and Yamuna as "living entity" -- an order which was later stayed by the Supreme Court.

Living entities have so far being granted to Hindu gods, holy scriptures and some corporations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2018 11:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).