Nagaland dog meat ban: Suspension notice to be considered in two weeks

Morung Express News 
Kohima | September 15

The High Court has called the matter on the petition over dog meat ban seeking suspension of the July 4 notification, to be considered after two weeks. 

“Let the matter be listed after two weeks for consideration of the interim prayer and for filing counter-affidavit,” the High Court headed by a single bench in Kohima announced today. 

Earlier the petitioners appealed for suspension of operation of the notification as an interim measure and setting aside the notification and cabinet decision on September 2. 

Advocate of the petitioner, Kezhosano Kikhi in her submission stated that the impugned notification suffers from "several irregularities which cannot face the test of law insofar, as Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 is concerned which relates to laying down standards of food items which are not healthy for human consumption and it does not lays down the rules for slaughter of animals in particular." “The purpose of the act may be extendable to dogs,” the counsel admitted. 

However on the flipside, the government advocate argued that the ban was for marketing and selling of dog meat in the State and not banned for consumption and countered that the matter is misplaced by the petitioner and claimed that the notification has been issued by means of a Cabinet decision.

The court after hearing the submission of both the parties has listed the matter after two weeks for consideration of the interim prayer and for filing counter-affidavit.