Animal Rescue Trust Through Vineeta Tandon v. Union Of India ( Thr Ministry Of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry And Dairying) And ORS

16-PIL.58.2024 Jvs.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 58 OF 2024 Animal Rescue Trust } Petitioner

Versus

Union of India & Ors.

} Respondents Mr. Akshay Deshmukh with Mr. Sanket Kadam for petitioner.

by JAYANT VISHWANATH SALUNKE Date: 2025.01.24 19:08:35 +0530 JAYANT VISHWANATH SALUNKE Mr. Udaybhanu Sinh with Mr. Ashutosh Misra for respondent no. 1 (UoI).

Ms. Neha Bhide, Government Pleader with Mr. O. A. Chandurkar, Additional Government Pleader and Ms. G. R.

Raghuwanshi, AGP for respondent no. 2.

Mr. R. P. Ojha for respondent no. 3.

CORAM: ALOK ARADHE, CJ. & BHARATI DANGRE, J.

DATE:

JANUARY 24, 2025 P.C.:

1.

In this petition, the petitioner, which is a non-Government organization and is running a dog shelter, has assailed the validity of Notification dated 12th March 2024 issued by the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department, Union of India, by which, 23 dog breeds have been declared to be dangerous and ferocious and have been prohibited for import, breeding, selling as pet dogs and other purposes.

16-PIL.58.2024 2.

Learned counsel for respondent no. 1, on instructions, submits that the Union of India presently is not acting upon the aforesaid notification and has issued a public notice dated 2nd May 2024 inviting objections. It is further submitted that after consideration of the objections, a suitable decision in this regard shall be taken.

3.

In response, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in pursuance of the aforesaid public notice, the petitioner has already preferred objections.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the petitioner has sought a direction to respondents 1 and 2 to form a State Board and District Society for prevention of cruelty to animals within a stipulated time.

5.

The learned Government Pleader for the State submits that the State Board as well as the Society at the district level has been constituted.

6.

Learned counsel for the petitioner prays for and is granted three weeks' time to enable her to seek instructions and to file interim application for amendment, if so advised. 7.

List on 14th February 2025.

(BHARATI DANGRE, J.) (CHIEF JUSTICE)