Representational image.

The Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court has stayed the Nagaland government’s decision to impose a ban on the sale and consumption of dog meat in the state.

The court passed the interim order on Wednesday while hearing a petition filed by licensed dog meat traders of Nagaland.

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Justice S. Hukato Swu said the court was of the view that the ban order “may be stayed until the next returnable date”.

The Nagaland government on July 3 had announced that it has decided to ban “commercial import and trading of dogs, dog markets and also the sale of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked”.

The ban came into effect from July 4 across the State.

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The Nagaland government had cited food safety regulations as the primary reason for the ban.

However, many traders alleged that the government took the decision under pressure from animal rights groups in India and beyond.

The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), which had asked the Nagaland government to ban dog meat consumption, said the canines were usually smuggled from Assam and West Bengal.

“A dog caught in Assam for Rs 50 is sold for Rs 1,000 in Nagaland’s wholesale market. Dog meat sells for Rs 200 per kg on the streets of Nagaland, which is about Rs 2,000 per dog,” the FIAPO said in a statement.