Kabir Gama Roy And 2 ORS v. The State Of Goa Thr. Its Chief Secretay And 6 ORS.,

Mr Neelesh Takkekar, Advocate for the Petitioners. Mr Shubham Priolkar, Addl. Govt. Advocate for Respondents No.1, 2,5 and 6.

Mr R. Chodankar, Central Govt. Standing Counsel for Respondent No.3.

P.C.:

One of the reliefs in this Petition is to operationalise the North and South District Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Petitioners have pointed out that though new Managing Committees for these societies have been constituted, not a single meeting has been held for almost four months. Mr Priolkar learned Additional Govt. Advocate, on instructions, states that the Member Secretaries of these Societies

will ensure that the first meeting of these Societies would be held within four weeks from today, without fail.

We accept the above statement and direct both the Member Secretaries to take all necessary steps to operationalise the District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA). For all this, the first meeting must be held within four weeks from today. These societies cannot be allowed to remain paper societies. They are statutory and must discharge the duties and functions assigned to them by the Statute that governs their constitution and functions.

The Petitioners also have a grievance about the DSPCAs not having permanent Member Secretaries. Mr Priolkar pointed out that as per the present scheme, the Additional Directors of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services function as the Ex-Officio Member Secretaries of the Managing Committees of each of the DSPCAs.

Accordingly, we grant the Petitioners liberty to represent the Government for appointing permanent Members' Secretaries. If such representations are made, they should be disposed of by the Secretary (Animal Husbandry) within three months of receipt.

We dispose of this Petition with the above directions and by accepting Mr Priolkar's statement. There shall be no order for costs. All concerned to act on an authenticated copy of this order. SHRIDHAR MHAMAL Date: 2024.04.10 18:56:06 +05'30'

SANTOSH SHRIDHAR MHAMAL