NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, in conjunction with Humane Society International (India), has established the first ever Centre for Animal Law in India.

The centre was inaugurated on Friday by Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi.

N.G. Jayasimha, managing director of HSI/India, has been appointed as the Honorary Director of the Centre. “Today is a historic day for India and its animals,” he said.

“We thank the Board of NALSAR and of course, the Vice Chancellor Professor Faizan Mustafa, who has made this centre happen. We hope that the Centre for Animal Law will be the first of many institutions dedicated to the study of animal issues and animal law in India and elsewhere.”

The centre will work towards developing a curriculum on animal welfare laws as well as potential topics for research.

As part of its activities, it will also conduct workshops on issues of interest with judicial magistrates, animal welfare advocates, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in the government.