Telangana HC Directs State to Reconstitute Animal Welfare Board Without Delay

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has directed the state government to ensure immediate constitution of the Telangana State Animal Welfare Board if the Board is not reconstituted after the expiry of the three-year tenure following the constitution of the earlier Board in 2019.

The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin, was hearing a writ petition filed by Humane Society International/India seeking strict implementation of animal welfare laws regulating pet shops and dog breeding centers across the state. The petitioner also sought directions for restructuring and effective functioning of the Telangana State Animal Welfare Board, whose tenure ends in 2022.

During the hearing, senior advocate Desai Prakash Reddy, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, stated that although the state in its counter affidavit stated that applications for appointment of non-official members were invited in January 2025, no concrete steps were taken to reconstitute the Board. He also pointed out that the counter-affidavit filed by the state municipal administration department after a delay of over a year contained contradictory statements, one claiming that the Board was functioning and the other stating that it was not yet established.

Additional solicitor general Mohammed Imran Khan, appearing for the State, sought time to file a further counter affidavit with explanations and submitted that the earlier affidavit did not clearly reflect the government’s stand on restructuring of the Board. He informed the court that district associations to prevent cruelty to animals operate in all districts and inspections are carried out in pet shops.

Noting the allegations, the Bench observed that if the Animal Welfare Board was not reconstituted, the state government should ensure its constitution without any delay. The matter was adjourned and directed to be listed in four weeks for further hearing.