Kohima: The Kohima bench of the Gauhati High Court has set on hold the carpet ban on the selling of dog meat in Nagaland that was enforced on July 2. This would imply that the commercial import, trade, and selling of dogs and dog meat can be possible in Nagaland until further notice.
The order was passed prior to this week, government sources stated.
As indicated by government sources, the High Court had on September 14 provided an opportunity to the Nagaland government to register an affidavit however that the government did not register one.
The Nagaland government had chosen to ban the commercial import, trading and selling of dog meat in July after a photo of incapacitated canines tied in gunny packs was broadly circulated on the internet.
Dog meat is considered a delicacy among certain communities in the state. In 2016, animal rights activists had given a legal notice to the government over dog meat sale.
The petitioners who opposed the boycott stated the state government’s order to boycott dog meat in July had been passed in the form of a cabinet decision, being an executive order and without of legislative sanction. The petitioners are traders dealing in import, trade and selling of dog meat inside the jurisdiction of Kohima Municipal Corporation (KMC).
Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy had tweeted in July: “The state government has decided to ban commercial import and trading of dogs and dog markets and also the sale of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked. Appreciate the wise decision taken by the state’s cabinet.”
Mizoram is the other north-eastern state that prohibited the import and selling of dog meat in March.
Nagaland has special exemptions under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution that gives special status to shield the customary traditional acts of the individuals of the state from any Act of parliament.
About 30 million dogs and 10 million cats are slaughtered across Asia for human consumption yearly, with the trade most widespread in China, South Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos and many sections of northeast India.
with IANSinputs
