The said Notification was challenged by filing a writ petition in the Kerala High Court and by the impugned judgment dated 6th June, 2000, the High Court has upheld the validity of the said Notification.
Briefly stated the facts are that on 2nd March, 1991 a Notification under Section 22 was issued banning training and exhibition of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and dogs.
This Notification was challenged by the Indian Circus Federation before the High Court of Delhi.
Hence, these appeals.
A Committee was companystituted by the Government of India companysisting of Additional Inspector General Wildlife , Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority, Additional IGF Retd.
and Director, Animal Welfare.
Thereafter by an order dated 21st August, 1997, a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court required the Government of India to have a fresh look into the Notification after taking into account materials placed before it by the petitioners therein and other authorities.
After the issuance of the Notification, a companyrigendum was issued whereby dogs were excluded from the said Notification.
2001 3 SCR 353 The Judgment of the Court was delivered by KIRPAL, J. Intervention applications on behalf of Indian Circus Federation are allowed.
The main challenge in these appeals by special leave from the judgment of the Kerala High Court is to the validity of Section 22 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 for short the Act and the Notification issued under Section 22 to the effect that numberperson shall train or exhibit any animals specified therein, namely, bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions.
The said Committee gave a detailed Report and in pursuance thereto the impugned Notification dated 14th October, 1998 was issued under Section 22 whereby exhibition and training of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions was prohibited.
Special leave granted.
