New Delhi: Nearly four months after the Nagaland government banned commercial import and sale of dogs and dog meat in the state, the Kohima bench of the Gauhati high court has lifted it till the case is heard after the winter vacation. Justice S. Hukatu Swu’s November 25 order stated that the interim stay would continue “until the next returnable date”. On July 3, the state government had clamped a ban on “commercial import and trading of dogs, dog markets and also the sale of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked”. The decision came a day after Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) reiterated its appeal to the state government to put a ban on the sale of dog meat in the state. FIAPO had said in its statement that the dogs were usually smuggled from Assam and West Bengal and sold at an exorbitant price in the state. Two days prior to the FIAPO’s call for the ban, former BJP Union minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi too issued an appeal to the Nagaland government to do so.Also read: Nagaland Bans Sale, Consumption of Dog MeatHowever, the state government officially stated that the order was brought in keeping food safety concerns in mind. Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 prohibit slaughter of dogs. The Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, also disallows the slaughter of dogs and cats for food. However, the decision triggered huge opposition across the state as the meat is considered a delicacy by many. Dog meat traders who were issued licences by the Kohima Municipal Corporation to import and trade dog meat decided to challenge the order and filed the petition in the high court. Reacting to the HC order, N. Kuotsu, one of the petitioners, told The Hindu, “The ban adversely affected the livelihood of people dealing in dogs and dog meat, and the pandemic situation made it worse.” Welcoming the order, Opposition Naga People’s Front MLA Chotisuh Sazo told The Telegraph, “Rearing of dog as a domestic animal and more like a man’s best friend amongst the Nagas is common in our culture. Moreover, we treat dog meat as a delicacy and the most priced ones, we treat its meat as medicine. Hence, to me it is a welcome step.” The Nagaland government had imposed the ban five months after the Mizoram government had taken a similar decision.