Delhi HC Rejects Petition to Ban “Dangerous” Dog Breeds

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court rejected a petition to ban “dangerous” or “aggressive” dog breeds on Thursday. They also refused to cancel the license to keep “dangerous” dog breeds like pitbulls, rottweilers, American bulldogs, and so on as pets.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma asked the petitioner, Legal Attorneys & Barrister Law Firm, to approach the relevant authorities before directly filing a plea before the High Court.

"This is a wrong trend in PILs. This is a policy decision," said the bench, also comprising Justice Sanjeev Narula. "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 told the petitioner's lawyer.

The petitioner alleged that breeds like pit bulls, rottweilers, and American bulldogs are “dangerous dogs” which are banned in 12 countries (including India) but are still allowed to be registered with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to be kept as pets. The petition itself also cited different incidents involving such dog breeds attacking people and even their owners at times.

"It is the need of the hour to ban and cancel the license to keep such dogs as Pitbull, Terriers, American bulldog, Rottweiler, Japanese Tosa, Bandog, Neapolitan Mastiff, Wolf Dog, Boerboel, Presa Canario, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino and cross breeds of above mentioned dogs," the petition said.

The petitioner said that it was the center and state government’s duty to function as a welfare state and take preventive action to minimize the risks posed by these “dangerous” dogs and the injuries that any attack in public would entail