The Delhi High Court today refused to pass any direction on a plea which seeks allowing pet dogs in public parks and said the issue has to be addressed by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
"The AWBI is responsible for working out a solution to the problem flagged by the petitioner, in consultation with and acceptable to all. Any direction as claimed in the petition, if issued by us, would be one-sided and may lead to day-to-day altercations at public places, affecting peace and harmony of the city.
"We are of the view that unless a consensus is evolved by the AWBI by holding consultations with all stakeholders i.E. dog-lovers as well as those who are uncomfortable in the presence of dogs at public places as well as all municipal agencies and Delhi government, managing the public parks, it is not in public interest to issue any direction," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said.
The bench further said the petitioner is seeking something which is the function of the Board and "which not only we are not willing to do but consider ourselves not equipped to do".
The court's order came on a petition filed by advocate Anupam Tripathi, which had sought directions to the Centre and Delhi government "to allow access for pet dogs to walk in the parks" under their jurisdiction.
The plea had also sought directions to the authorities "to convert some percentage of existing public parks within their jurisdiction into designated dog parks".
The advocate had contended that providing such a facility "shall help reduce conflict between pet-owners and non-pet owners, especially RWAs, which has been a lurking issue of tussle between the two sides for a long time in Delhi and NCR".
