Raj Panjwani of India to Receive 2008 Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award

CHICAGO, June 18, 2008 — The American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section will honor Raj Panjwani of the Animal and Environment Legal Defense Fund, New Delhi, India, with the Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award. The award will be presented during the 2008 ABA Annual Meeting in New York City at a reception sponsored by the TIPS Animal Law Committee and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at the Waldorf~Astoria Hotel on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 4:30 -5:30 p.m.

The Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award recognizes exceptional work by an ABA member or leader of an animal law committee, who through his/her commitment and leadership, has made an impact in the advancement of the humane treatment of animals.

Panjwani, a leading animal law constitutional lawyer in India, is a graduate of Hamidia College where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1973, his Master of Arts in 1975 and his Bachelor of Law in 1976. At the age of 21, he was enrolled as a member of the Supreme Court of India Bar and the High Court of Delhi Bar. His law practice since then has focused on animal welfare, environmental issues and legislation.

Panjwani currently serves a vice chair of the Animal Law Committee of the Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association.

His commitment to animal welfare has been unyielding. He  has served as legal counsel for the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Committee for Prevention of Cruelty and Supervision of Experiments on Animals, the Donkey Sanctuary, World Wildlife Fund-India, World Society for Protection of Animals, Greenpeace, Bombay Natural History Society, Wildlife Trust of India, Conservation Action Trust, People for Animals, Wildlife Protection Society of India, the Goa Foundation, Toxic Links and the Orissa Wildlife Protection Society, among other organizations.

Panjwani has been a member of the Labeling Committee, Government of India; Committee for Prevention of Cruelty and Supervision of Experiments on Animals; the committee appointed by the high court of Delhi for the implementation of laws pertaining to wildlife; Committee on the Delhi Slaughter House; and Committee on Stray Animals in Urban Areas.

Panjwani is the founder of the Animal and Environment Legal Defense Fund. He has drafted legislation for the government of India, including Performing Animals (registration) Rules, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (transport of animals on foot) Rules, Transport of Animals (amendment) Rules, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (slaughter house) Rules, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (establishment & registration of ASPCA’s) Rules, Transport, Riding, and Trekking of Equine Rules.  Panjwani is the principal author of the animal law case book, Animal Laws of India.  In addition, he has authored the book Courting Wildlife and co-authored a volume on animal laws of India, which is now in its third edition. In 2002, was awarded a citation by the Supreme Court of India Bar Association for “adding knowledge to the practice of law.”

His successes as an advocate for animal rights include: protection of the Olive Ridley turtles rookeries; installation of turtle extruder devices in fishing; restriction of fishing during turtle mating season; prohibition on ivory trade and seizure of illegal ivory stocks; prohibition of trade in furs and skins of endangered wild; prohibition of the manufacturing and sale of shahtoosh shawls from the wool of the endangered Tibetan Antelope; establishment of improved conditions for animals in circuses and mobile zoos; establishment of procedures for veterinary care of injured or rescued animals; and prohibition of certain slaughters of stray dogs; establishment of humane standards, including hygienic conditions, at slaughter houses; and establishment of land use standards for parks, to name several career highlights.

The ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section unites plaintiff, defense, insurance, and corporate counsel to advance the civil justice system.  TIPS is a national source of expertise in tort, trial and insurance practice and brings lawyers together to share information and speak out on issues of importance.  The section has more than 35,000 members and 34 general committees that focus on substantive and procedural matters in areas across the broad spectrum of civil law and practice.  For more information about the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section visit the TIPS Web site, www.abanet.org/tips.

With more than 413,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.