Animal Rights in the Laboratory: A Cross-Jurisdictional Legal Perspective on Testing Practices

Astha Shrivastava

Abstract: Animal testing, or vivisection, remains one of the most ethically contentious practices in modern science. While historically viewed as essential to medical and scientific advancement, growing evidence and evolving ethical standards now challenge its legitimacy. This paper explores animal testing through a multidimensional lens?constitutional law, statutory protections, judicial interpretations, international frameworks, and moral philosophy. In the Indian context, provisions such as Articles 21, 48A, and 51A(g) of the Constitution, alongside the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, establish a foundational duty to safeguard animal welfare. However, weak enforcement and legal ambiguity often undermine these safeguards. Scientifically, the unreliability of animal models due to interspecies differences, coupled with high drug failure rates in human trials, calls into question the utility of such methods. Ethical discourse led by thinkers like Peter Singer and Tom Regan argues that sentient animals possess intrinsic value and should not be subjected to unnecessary suffering. The paper also reviews global developments, including bans on animal-tested cosmetics in the European Union and regulatory reforms elsewhere. Ultimately, this study calls for a rights-based, compassionate approach to research that aligns with both scientific integrity and moral responsibility, advocating for enforceable legal reforms and wider adoption of humane alternatives.

Keywords: Animal Testing, Animal Rights, Bioethics, Constitutional Law, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Article 21, Animal Welfare, Sentient Beings, Ethical Research, In Vitro Alternatives, Vivisection, Judicial Precedents, Global Legal Standards, Specialism, PETA India

How to Cite?: Astha Shrivastava, "Animal Rights in the Laboratory: A Cross-Jurisdictional Legal Perspective on Testing Practices", Volume 14 Issue 8, August 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 588-592, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25808202555, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25808202555