Chennai: The Madras High Court yesterday granted permission to conduct a dog show at the YMCA grounds here between September 12-14.
Justice V Ramasubramanian, before whom the petition filed by the Madras Canine Club came up, however, said, “The animals which are brought to the exhibition, shall not be allowed to perform any acrobatics and shall not be subjected to any cruelty for the purpose of satisfying the audience.”
The judge passed the interim orders on a writ petition filed by the Club, which rushed to court apprehending interference/obstruction from the Animal Welfare Board of India.
It said the AWBI might insist on prior permission for the event and might say it would be covered by rules concerning ‘performing animals.'
The judge pointed out that several dogs and judges were coming from abroad for the show and said disallowing the event will not be in public interest nor the interest of animals themselves.
Counsel for AWBI Jayesh B Dolia said dogs exhibited in such shows were actually subjected to cruelty with a view to making them appear differently.
Additional government pleader P Sanjay Gandhi took notice on behalf of the Government while Club's counsel R Srinivas, however, said the object of the event was to protect, preserve and promote various canine breeds.
He said such shows were exempted from the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Justice Ramasubramanian pointed out that the March 1991 ban on performing animals was altered by the Centre later thereby excluding dogs from the prohibitory notification.
Such exemption of dogs from performing animals was upheld by the Supreme Court as well, the judge said. “It appears that the conduct of a mere dog show, where the animals will not be made to perform any act displaying any of their skills, is not harmful,” he said.
The judge said larger questions such as permitting such shows and preventing tail-docking and ear-cropping could be decided later.
