New Delhi: Despite being one of the most polluted cities, no cases were registered in the city related to air, water or noise pollution in 2024, as per the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report. The report also included cases under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for the first time.In 2024, Delhi recorded only 16 environmental offences— eight under the Wildlife Protection Act, seven under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, and one under the Environmental Protection Act. The city saw a crime rate (env) of 0.1%, which is crime per one lakh of population. Chargesheets were filed in 73% of cases.Meanwhile, a total of 35 cases were registered in Delhi under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, while pan-India, 9,039 cases were registered in 2024, of which a total of 10,312 persons were arrested, chargesheets were filed in 96.7% of cases, and in 2,070 cases investigation remained pending, and the conviction rate was 80.5%, with 93.8% in metropolitan areas.“This step is in the right direction by the govt and marks an important shift in how animal cruelty is recognised within India’s criminal justice system,” said Shreemoyee Chakraborty, People For Animals.
