The Delhi High Court recently set aside a circular issued by the Central government banning the import, breeding and selling of certain breeds of “ferocious dogs”.A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora set aside the circular while noting the submission of the Central government that other than government bodies, no private body was heard before the ban was imposed.“He (counsel for the Central government) states that he has no objection if the impugned circular is set aside with a direction to the respondents to issue a fresh circular/notification after giving an opportunity to all the stakeholders to raise their objections. Keeping in view the aforesaid statement by learned counsel for Union of India, the impugned circular dated 12th March 2024 is set aside,” the Court ordered.The Bench said that since it is not possible to give an oral hearing to each and every dog owner, the government would issue a public notice in a national newspaper as well as on its website inviting written objections to the proposed/draft notification/amendment to the rules within two weeks.“The objections filed in response to the advertisement/ publication on the website shall be examined and decided by the respondents before issuing the final notification. the impugned circular was issued,” the Bench ordered.
TAGS: Delhi High Court Central government ban ferocious dogs circular Acting Chief Justice Manmohan Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora stakeholders opportunity
