JUDGMENT

Leong Wai Hong JC:

Introduction

[1] 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.'

[2] Such is the famous refrain from Animal Farm, by George Orwell, published in 1945. A satirical allegorical novella, it tells the story of a group of animals who rebel against their human master, hoping to create a society where animals can be equal, free and happy. This is, of course, fiction.

[3] On Planet Earth the reality is that it is only humans who can create an ecological environment where animals can be safe, free and happy. This OS is an application for pre-action discovery by NGOs and concerned citizens and members of the public against The Director of the Animal Welfare Board ["Animal Welfare Board or the defendant"]. Its purpose is to verify compliance by the Animal Welfare Board with its functions and tasks as mandated by the Animal Welfare Act 2015 . [" " or "Act"]

[4] I heard Counsel on 21 March 2022, 4 April 2022 and 20 April 2022. On 12 May 2022 I allowed the OS but confined the pre-action discovery documents to only the activity reports from the date of establishment of the Animal Welfare Board to date.

Background Facts

[5] The ten plaintiffs here had fi