The Animal Welfare Board Of India vs Union Of India

The Supreme Court referred the writ petitions challenging the Tamil Nadu Amendment Act, 2017, to a Constitution Bench due to substantial constitutional questions regarding its validity under Entry 17, List III of the Seventh Schedule, and its compliance with Articles 14, 21, 29, and 48 of the Constitution of India. The Court noted the need to determine if the Act perpetuates cruelty to animals, aligns with cultural heritage, and contradicts previous judgments, specifically Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja (2014) 7 SCC 547. The matter was deemed significant enough to warrant a five-judge bench for authoritative interpretation.