A photograph of the Rottweiler that attacked the nurse in Madikeri. (Photo credit: TV9 Kannada)
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the central government to decide a representation regarding banning and cancelling the licence of dangerous do breeds expeditiously, preferably within three months.
What is the grievance of the petitioner?
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkanra asked this to the Centre while hearing a plea filed by Legal Attorneys & Barristers Law Firm alleging that dog breeds such as Bulldog, Rottweiler, Pitbull, Terriers, Neapolitan Mastiff are “dangerous dogs” and they are banned in more than 12 countries including India, however, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was still registering them to be kept as pets.
“They (the authorities) shall decide representation as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months,” the High Court said.
Petitioner made a representation to the authorities to ban dangerous breed dogs
A representation in this regard was made by the petitioner before the authorities in October.
The High Court asked the petitioner to let the authorities take a call on the issue.
Also read: Delhi High Court refuses to entertain PIL seeking to ban dangerous dog breeds in national capital
The High Court had earlier refused to entertain the petition on October 5, saying that the petitioner should first approach the government authorities with its grievance.
HC stressed on need to promote local breeds of dogs
During the hearing on Wednesday, the High Court stressed on the need to promote the local breeds of dogs which are sturdy.
“Indian breeds need to be taken care of. They are far more sturdy. They don’t fall sick that often because they have acclimatized. Today we are vocal for local,” the bench observed.
What did the petition say?
The petition, while highlighting many incidents of dangerous dog breeds attacking people including their owners, stressed that it was the duty of the central and state government to act as welfare state and to take preemptive action in order to save the lives of its citizens from the risk of any major dog bite incident by these “dangerous” breeds.
The petition further said that it is the need of the hour to ban and cancel the licence to keep “dogs such as Pitbull, Terriers, American bulldog, Rottweiler, Japanese Tosa, Bandog, Neapolitan Mastiff, Wolf Dog, Boerboel, Presa Canario, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino and cross breeds of above mentioned dogs.”
