The Bombay High Court on Thursday called for a response from the Centre and the Maharashtra Government regarding a plea against the proposed ban on 23 breeds of 'dangerous' dogs. On March 12, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying (Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department) issued a circular urging states not to grant licenses or permissions for the sale, breeding, and ownership of certain breeds considered dangerous to human life.
The agency reports that the Pune-based NGO 'Animal Rescue Trust' filed a public interest litigation requesting the High Court to cancel the circular and halt its implementation, claiming that such a move could increase cruelty against these breeds.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice Arif Doctor issued notices to the Centre and state government, seeking a response by June 24 on the matter.
The petitioner has sought an interim stay on the circular; however, the bench noted that the Calcutta High Court had already partially stayed the circular. The court stated that no further executive orders or decisions have been made in Maharashtra based on this circular. 'We first want to understand what the Central Government has to say,' the court expressed.
What was claimed in the public interest litigation?
The litigation claimed that the ban on 23 dog breeds was imposed without consulting all stakeholders and that the circular is non-factual and not based on scientific evidence of cruelty related to these breeds, and is merely reactionary to recent dog-biting incidents.
It was mentioned that similar pleas challenging the circular have been filed in other high courts, with some courts already imposing a stay on its implementation. The petition argues that the ban decision is arbitrary and claims there is a lack of scientific study and evidence, suggesting such restrictions will only increase cruelty against these breeds.
