Karnataka High Court Reserves Orders In Plea Challenging Centre's Ban On "Ferocious & Dangerous" Dog Breeds

The Karnataka High Court on Monday reserved its order on a petition filed challenging the circular issued by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department, which bans the rearing of certain breeds of dogs on the ground of them being ferocious and dangerous to human life in the state.

A single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna reserved the order after hearing all parties. It said “There is an inherent problem in the circular? I will direct you (Union of India) to redo in a particular manner.”

Additional Solicitor General Arvind Kamath appearing for the Ministry submitted that the Delhi High Court had said all the stakeholders must be consulted and that he had verified that the statutory stakeholders were consulted but it had to be extended to bodies from civil society which represent the breeders association. The ASG undertook to redo the exercise after consulting all the necessary stakeholders.

Advocate Swaroop Anand R appearing for the petitioner argued that not a single domain expert was there in the technical expert committee formed by the Ministry. He said that the AQCS of Central Zoo authority is part of that committee, but he is responsible for the quarantine of animals for disease prevention. Further, he said that Guidelines should be prescribed for big dogs, in terms of behavioural training and the petitioners would support the same.

The circular bans the following breeds of dogs: 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 known as a Ban Dog (or Bandog).

The circular also requires those, who have reared the aforesaid breed of dogs as pets with them, to sterilise their pets and stop further breeding

Appearance: Advocate Swaroop Anand R for Petitioner.

Additional Solicitor General Aravind Kamath a/w Deputy Solicitor General Shanthi Bhushan H for Respondent.

Case Title: King Solomon David & ANR AND Joint Secretary

Case No: WP 8409/2024