KENNEL CLUB OF INDIA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Kennel Club of India (KCI), The Madras Canine Club (MCC) and C.R.Balakrishna Bhat are the petitioners in these Writ Petitions. Their prayer in common, is for a Certiorarified Mandamus quashing Notification No.3/2015-2020 dtd. 25/4/2016. They also seek a direction to R1 and R2, being the Secretary, Department of Commerce and Industry and Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) (hereinafter referred to as R1 and R2/DGFT respectively) not to prevent dog lovers from lawfully importing dogs into India for dog shows, as pets and for breeding.

(2.) Heard Mr.R.Srinivas and Mr.V.Selvaraj, learned Senior Counsel appearing for learned counsel on record for the petitioners, Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan, learned Additional Solicitor General assisted by Mr.V.Chandrasekaran, learned Senior Panel Counsel appearing for R1 and R2 and Mr.Alagu Gowtham, learned Government Advocate appearing for R3. In addition, I had consulted Dr.R.Karunakaran, Dean of the Madras Veterinary College, Chennai, and Dr.Sujatha, Deputy Librarian, who have been most helpful in supplying books and literature to aid my understanding of the subject of native Dogs.

(3.) KCI was founded in the year 1896 by the British. It is the only private authority dealing with the interests of canines in India. It maintains the pedigree and stud book of various recognised dog breeds and its records date back to more than a century. It holds an ISO certification and a full membership of the Federation Cynologique International (FCI), the largest body in the world dealing with the interests of canines as well as the Asian Kennel Union and the Commonwealth Kennel Clubs as well as reciprocal arrangements with various major International Kennel Clubs.