'Wrong trend': HC refuses to entertain plea seeking ban on 'dangerous' dog breeds
Delhi High Court refused to hear a public interest litigation seeking to ban and cancel the license to keep "dangerous" dog breeds like pitbulls, terriers, American bulldogs, rottweilers and others.
A bench led by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma directed the petitioner, Legal Attorneys & Barrister Law Firm, to first approach government authorities with its complaint before filing a case with the court.
"This is a wrong trend in PILs. This is a policy decision," the bench stated.
"Before filing, you make a representation to the government that this is my grievance but you have come straight to the court. You have to make a representation first," the court stated
The petitioner claimed in its PIL that breeds such as bulldogs, rottweilers, pitbulls, terriers, and Neapolitan Mastiffs are "dangerous dogs" and are prohibited in more than 12 countries, including India, but the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was still registering them as pets.
The petition cited numerous instances of such dog breeds attacking people, including their owners.
The plea stated, "it is the need of the hour to ban and cancel the license to keep such dogs as Pitbull, Terriers, American bulldogs, Rottweiler, Japanese Tosa, Bandog, Neapolitan Mastiff, Wolf Dog, Presa Canario, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino and crossbreeds of above-mentioned dogs."
According to the petitioner, it is the responsibility of the Centre and state governments to act as welfare states and take preventative measures to protect citizens from the likelihood of major dog bite incidents by these "dangerous dogs."
- With inputs from agencies
