Karnataka HC stays Centre’s ban on import, breeding and sale of ‘ferocious’ dog breeds
The stay order is applicable only in the state, the High Court clarified.
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the implementation of a circular issued by the Centre banning the import, breeding and sale of 23 “ferocious” dog breeds, Bar and Bench reported.
Justice M Nagaprasanna said that the stay would only be applicable in Karnataka. The joint petition was moved by Mardona Jones and King Solomon David, both residents of Bengaluru, The Hindu reported.
Last week, the Centre had asked states to ban the import, breeding and sale of dog breeds such as pitbulls, rottweilers and mastiffs in the wake of a number of fatal attacks on humans by dogs.
The Union fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying ministry said that it had received representations from citizen’s forums and animal rights groups requesting the ban. It also said that the Delhi High Court had told the Centre to respond to a writ petition seeking a ban on certain canine breeds.
After the Delhi High Court’s directive, the ministry had set up a committee led by the animal husbandry commissioner and comprising experts from several stakeholder groups, which recommended banning several dog breeds in the country.
On Tuesday, the petitioners’ counsel argued before the Karnataka High Court that the Union government’s circular was arbitrary and discriminatory.
The petitioners alleged that the expert committee that recommended the ban had not consulted any stakeholders before the...
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