Dog meat can be sold in Nagaland, Gauhati High court stays government ban

KOHIMA: The Gauhati High Court’s Kohima bench has stayed the Nagaland government’s order to ban the commercial import and trade of dog meat in markets and restaurants. An intern stay was issued by the court on November 25 after the state government failed to file a reply.

A bench headed by justice S Hukato Swu pronounced the order stating that the impugned order dated July 4, 2020 may be stayed until the next returnable date. It directed the state respondents to file their affidavit-in-reply and the matter is to be listed after the winter vacation.

On July 3, Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy announced the State government’s decision to ban “commercial import and trading of dogs, dog markets and also the sale of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked”.

The ban on the sale of dogs for meat in Nagaland came into effect on July 4 after the state cabinet decided to impose a ban on the commercial import and trading of dogs, dog markets and the sale of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked.

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The move had evoked mixed reactions from the Naga people. Although, there are many Nagas who do not consume dog meat, it is considered more than a delicacy for Nagas and certain other communities in the region. The meat is believed to have medicinal values as well.

On September 2, a petition was filed by traders licensed under the Kohima Municipal Council for importing dogs and selling dog meat, challenging the legal basis and jurisdiction regarding the ban. The petitioners are of the view that the notification wrongly interpreted and relied on the Food Safety Act.

Mizoram is another northeastern state that banned the import and sale of dog meat in March.

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