The order issued by the Karnataka High Court has nullified the ban imposed by the Centre on 23 dog breeds, which were previously deemed as a threat to human life.
The court emphasized the significance of seeking input from pet owners and relevant organizations prior to enacting such prohibitions, underscoring their accountability in the event that their pets cause harm and result in expenses.
A revised circular can be issued by the central government after consulting experts and following due process, as stated by Justice M Nagaprasanna, the single judge bench who issued the order.
The Animal Husbandry Ministry’s directive on March 13th urged states and Union Territories to abstain from issuing licenses and permissions for activities related to breeds that pose potential hazards. This action was taken by the Centre in response to multiple cases of fatal dog attacks, which resulted in the categorization of breeds such as Pit Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu, and American Staffordshire Terrier as “dangerous.” The ban extended to a diverse array of breeds, including those commonly known as Ban Dog or Bandog, Rottweilers, and Terriers.
The circular that was recently discarded had instructed all states and Union territories to forbid 23 specific dog breeds that were considered ‘ferocious’ and posed a threat to human life. This circular was issued in response to the central government’s commitment to the Delhi High Court in December 2023, where they pledged to address the request for a ban on licenses for breeds classified as dangerous.
The petition also argued that labelling any particular dog breed as aggressive is baseless. Attacks by such breeds are likely due to lack of training and socialization. Additionally, there are many dog breeds not included in the contested circular that have also been involved in attacks. Hence, the rationale behind the classification in the circular is considered arbitrary and may be overturned.
