The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday quashed the Centre's directive that banned the import, breeding and sale of certain breeds of dogs deemed "dangerous" by an expert committee set up by the Animal Husbandry Ministry .
The High Court said that pet owners and relevant organisations should have been consulted before a circular was issued banning “dangerous” dog breeds.
It should be kept in mind that pet owners are responsible if their pets injure anyone, and they are the ones who have to pay for the expenses, the court said.
In a circular on March 13, the Animal Husbandry Ministry had asked states and Union territories to ensure that no licences or permissions are issued for the sale, breeding and keeping of pit bulls and other breeds which are "dangerous for human life".
The Centre's directive came in the wake of several incidents of fatal attacks by dogs.
The breeds that were certified "dangerous" include Pitbull Terrier, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Boerboel, Kangal, Central Asian Sheepdog, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, South Russian Shepherd Dog, Tornjak, Sarplaninac, Japanese Tosa and Akita, Mastiff (Boerboel), Rottweiler, Terriers, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Wolf Dogs, Canario, Akbash, Moscow Guard Dog, Cane Corso and every type of dog commonly known as Ban Dog or Bandog.
