Madras High Court
WP/27964/2024 of K.DAMODARAN Vs THE CHAIRMAN on 16 September 2026
WP No. 27964 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 16-09-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN
WP No. 27964 of 2024
CNR: {HCMA011530942024}
1. K.Damodaran
2. B.Kannan
3. T.S.Nandagopal
4. M.Venkatesan
5. B.Venkatakrishnan
6. V.Avinash
7. V.Venkatesh
8. V.Nelson Nethaji
9. M.Ganesan
..Petitioners
Vs
1. The Chairman,
Tamilnadu Animal Welfare Board,
Chennai.
2. The District Collector/President,
District Society for Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals,
Tiruvallur District.
3. The Secretary to Government,
Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries
and Fishermen Welfare Department,
Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
(R3-Suo Motu impleaded as per Order dated 28.10.2024 in W.P.No.27964/2024)
..Respondents
Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, direct the second respondent to approve the appointment of the petitioners 2 to 4 as Inspectors and 1 and 5 to 9 as Sub
WP No. 27964 of 2024
Inspectors of District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Thiruvallur District and consequently directing the respondents to fix the pay scale and other benefits due to the petitioners service in parlance with the benefits conferred to similarly payed to Inspectors and Sub Inspectors by the other district SPCA.
For Petitioner:
Mr.V.Ramamurthy
For Respondent:
Mr.S.Ilamvaludhi
Special Government Pleader
for R1 to R3
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ORDER
The present writ petition has been filed to direct the second respondent to approve the appointment of the petitioners 2 to 4 as Inspectors and petitioners 1 and 5 to 9 as Sub-Inspectors of the District Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Thiruvallur District, and consequently to direct the respondents to fix the pay scale and other benefits due to the petitioners' service on par with the benefits conferred upon and paid to similarly placed Inspectors and Sub- Inspectors in other district Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
2. The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that in every district, the society headed by the District Collector as Chairman of the society takes care of the animal shelters and takes all steps to safeguard them. While so, in Thiruvallur District, vide order dated 10.10.2019, the District Collector
WP No. 27964 of 2024
appointed these petitioners as Sub-Inspectors and Inspectors under Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It is the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioners that since 10.10.2019, the respondents have not approved their appointments and in this regard, they have already sent a representation dated 21.09.2022. The learned counsel for the petitioners would further submit that in respect of a similar appointment in Dindigul, the pay scale was fixed vide order dated 26.06.2008 in Na.Ka.No.780/A3/2008. Hence, it is submitted that the respondents may be directed to consider the petitioners' representation in line with the Dindigul District Collector’s order dated 26.06.2008.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioners further submits that the Hon’ble Minister, on the floor of the Assembly, also announced that the SPCA is functioning effectively in every district. However, the learned counsel would submit that the mere functioning of the SPCA without the necessary workforce to protect animal welfare becomes an empty formality. Unless the appointments of the petitioners are approved, the promise made by the Hon’ble Minister on the floor of the Assembly becomes futile. Therefore, in order to give full effect to the announcement made on the floor of the Assembly, it is necessary to approve the petitioners' appointments as per the orders issued by the society.
WP No. 27964 of 2024
3. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 3 strongly opposed the said submissions and submitted that the mere issuance of orders by some of the district SPCAs does not confer any vested right upon the petitioners. However, he fairly submitted that the respondents would consider the petitioners' representation on its own merits and in accordance with law.
4. In view of the above submissions, without going into the merits of the matter, this Court directs the second respondent to consider the representation of the petitioners dated 21.09.2022 on its own merits and in accordance with law. However, before passing the final order, the second respondent must also take into consideration the order passed by the District Collector, Dindigul in Na.Ka.No.780/A3/2008 dated 26.06.2008 on its own merits and in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
5. With the above directions, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. 16-09-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No NSL
WP No. 27964 of 2024
To
1. The Chairman, Tamilnadu Animal Welfare Board, Chennai.
2. The District Collector/President, District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Tiruvallur District.
3. The Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
WP No. 27964 of 2024
C.KUMARAPPAN, J. NSL WP No. 27964 of 2024 16-09-2026