Take steps to reconstitute animal welfare board: HC

The Karnataka High Court has asked the State government to take steps to reconstitute the State Animal Welfare Board (SAWB) and inform the court regarding its formation on the next date of hearing.

A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy was hearing a petition filed by Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, an animal welfare organisation, that had moved the court challenging the failure of the BBMP and the Animal Husbandry department to reconstitute the State Animal Welfare Board.

The assistant director of the department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services who was present before the court on Tuesday, said that the department had submitted a proposal to reconvene the SAWB way back on June 18, 2018, but the government has not responded yet. The government counsel submitted that due to elections, they cannot pass any orders at the moment.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the breeders’ rules were noticed way back in May 2017, and till date the implementation had been delayed.

The court, in the last hearing, had asked a senior official from the Animal Husbandry department to be present and inform the court regarding the constitution of SAWB and the mechanism adopted for licensing/registration of pets. The court adjouned the hearing.