American Pitbull Terrier, commonly referred to as Pitbull in India, is a medium-sized dog possessing short hair and characterised by a well-defined muscle structure along with a slightly thick tail which tapers to a point. Pitbulls are known to be energetic, intelligent and loyal, however they can become aggressive, if poorly trained.
Pitbulls are widely adopted as pets or guard dogs. They are also often used in search and rescue operations. Pitbulls have attracted a large share of controversy in India on account of their aggressive behaviour. There have been several incidents of pitbulls attacking people in the country, with some leading to death. Such incidents have fuelled public fear regarding pitbulls in India.
Has Government imposed a ban on Pitbulls?
No, there is no outright ban on Pitbulls in India. However, the Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairying had issued a circular on 12th March 2024, recommending that the state and union territories ban the import, sale and breeding of 23 breeds of dogs deemed dangerous. The list of 23 dog breeds included Pitbull Terriers. The ministry asked the local authorities to stop issuing licences or permits for sale or breeding for the 23 mentioned breeds. Furthermore, as per the directive, the local authorities were urged to carry out sterilisations of the existing pets of those breeds to prevent further breeding.
The recommendations were made on the advice of an expert committee, which was constituted under the chairmanship of Animal Husbandry Commissioner. Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying had constituted this committee in response to a high court order. On 6th December 2023, the Hon. Delhi High Court had directed the Central Government to take a decision regarding a plea seeking a ban on dangerous dog breeds like Pitbull Terrier, American Bulldog and Rotweiler. The circular issued by the Central Government was a direct result of this order.
Current Status
In April 2024, a divisional bench of the Delhi High Court overturned the March 12 circular issued by the Central Government, recommending a ban on import, selling and breeding of Pitbull Terrier and 22 other dog breeds. The court’s ruling came in response to a batch of petitions challenging the government’s circular.
Earlier on 19th March 2024, a single-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court had stayed the circular issued by the Central Government on 12th March 2024. However, the stay was applicable in the state of Karnataka only.
As of now, there is no nationwide ban on Pitbulls. However, certain states like Delhi and Maharashtra have some rules like permits and liability insurance for Pitbull ownership.