Telangana High Court Temporarily Stays Central Govt's Circular Banning Rearing Of 'Ferocious & Dangerous' Dog Breeds

The Telangana High Court has granted an interim stay on the Circular issued by the Centre banning the rearing of 'Ferocious & Dangerous' Dog Breeds.

The Circular was issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in March, banning the import, breeding, and selling of 25 dog breeds that were recognized as 'dangerous', as pet dogs. The circular further mandated the instant sterilization of any 'dangerous dog' that was already being kept as a pet.

The Circular was passed following an order passed by the Delhi High Court in The Legal Attorneys & Barristers Law Firm vs UOI & Ors, wherein the Court had directed the Ministry to ban certain dog breeds owing to the recent spike in human deaths occurring due to dog bites.

By staying the Circular, Telangana becomes the 4^th State to Stay the circular including Madras, Karnataka and Delhi.

While passing the order, Justice Vijaysen Reddy noted “Nowadays, owing a dog has become a social symbol. People keep expensive dogs to show their social stature. Don't you think?”

Agreeing with the Bench the counsel representing the petitioners stated that the petitioners are all avid animal lovers and agree with the Bench, however, being owners of these dog breeds also pressed that the circular could be passed without any scientific backing.

The circular further creates an unfounded fear of these dogs adding to the irrational fear that is slowly growing within the community.

Lastly, it was stressed that the increase in dog bite cases throughout the Country could not be linked to dogs of the breed as they resulted from stray dogs not being vaccinated promptly.

Case title: Fareedunnisa Huma vs. UoI

Case Number: WP 15048 of 2024

Counsel for petitioner: P. Sree Ramya