Author: Tahmeena Farooq

Abstract
Jurisprudence related to the welfare of animals has become a significant development in contemporary law. The trend of humane treatment of animals is being considered in many legal systems. In most cases, it can be said that this field of law stresses the shift towards ecocentric, compassion-focused, or any other more humane approaches. In this paper, a comparative study of the international approaches to the welfare of animals is made, based on the fact that animals are not only becoming property, but they are also sentient beings that require dignity, care, love, and protection. At the international level, such tools as the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, guidelines of the European Union, and judicial rulings of many jurisdictions have contributed greatly to the recognition of the animal rights and the respective duties of states.“Animal welfare legislation in”India is based on the constitutional provisions and the statutory schemes. Still, it is the active involvement of the Indian courts. It has prompted this discussion as has been seen through historic rulings that establish the intrinsic worth of the animal life. More so, has extended the concept of basic rights to include non-human beings and imposes duties not only to the state, but also to citizens. This paper posits that India is progressively advancing towards an emergent jurisprudence of animal welfare that resonates with global trends while remaining anchored in indigenous constitutional principles. This paper adopts a doctrinal and analytical approach to examine the evolving landscape of animal welfare jurisprudence.

Published in: GIBS Law Journal, February 2026 (Volume-8, Number-1)

Keyword: Animal Welfare | Global Approaches | Indian Judiciary | Jurisprudence | Legal Paradigm

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