The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying had undertaken an exercise to identify dangerous breeds of dogs by constituting an expert committee. The formation of the expert committee followed an order of the Delhi High Court dealing with incidents of dog bites and deaths due to dog bites of some ferocious breeds kept as pets.
Government has banned 23 dog breeds that are conidered dangerous to humans in response to rising cases of dog attacks across the country. (Credit: Getty)
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has stayed the operation of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying order banning the import, breeding and selling and keeping of some breeds of dogs identified as ferocious and dangerous to human life.
High Court order came on a plea filed by Kennel Club of India
The High Court order on Tuesday came on a petition filed by a dog breeder and Kennel Club of India, who have challenged the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying circular, saying there was no adequate consultation with the stakeholders by the ministry before imposing the ban.
Ministry issued a direction for banning dangerous breeds of dogs
The Ministry on March 12 issued a direction to all state governments and Union territories that based on recommendation of an expert committee breeds (including mixed and cross breeds) like Pitbull Terrier, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Boerboel, Kangal, Central Asian Shepherd Dog (ovcharka), Caucasian Shepherd Dog (ovcharka), South Russian Shepherd Dog (ovcharka), Tornjak, Sarplaninac, Japanese Tosa and Akita, Mastiffs (boerbulls), Rottweiler, Terriers, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Wolf Dogs, Canario, Akbash dog, Moscow Guard dog, Cane corso and every dog of the type commonly know as a ban dog are banned.
Ministry circular is stayed in the state of Karnataka
The High Court in its order said, “According the Kennel Club of India which has various chapters all over India and to brand a particular breed of dog to be ferocious and dangerous to human life, would require profound expertise. Breeds that are identical to the breeds that are found in India, are not the part of the circular. The High Court of Delhi had clearly indicated that all the stake holders shall be consulted, not a few or various. Therefore, till the time learned Deputy Solicitor general of India would produce those documents that went into decision making process, the circular be stayed, only in the State of Karnataka.”
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying had undertaken an exercise to identify dangerous breeds of dogs by constituting an expert committee. The formation of the expert committee followed an order of the Delhi High Court dealing with incidents of dog bites and deaths due to dog bites of some ferocious breeds kept as pets.
The High Court had directed the ministry to undertake an exercise “after consulting all stake holders and the Union of India shall decide petitioners representation within 3 months.”
However, the Kennel Club of India, involved in scientific breeding of dogs, claimed in the Karnataka High Court that they had not been consulted by the ministry.
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