- (1.) The petitioners are the registered Kennel Clubs, affiliated with the Kennel Club of India, Chennai (for short "KCI"), a member of the Federation Cynologique International, Brussels (for short "FCI") and the Kennel Club, London. The FCI has 78 members and contract partners (one member per country); it recognizes 370 breeds of dogs and each has a country of its origin and is a property of a specific country. The petitioner-Kennel Clubs are hosting "Dog Shows" every year in the winter as it is obligatory, being a member of the FCI, to hold minimum one dog show every year. The aims and objects of one of the petitioner-Kennel Clubs i.e. Amritsar Kennel Club, reproduced in the writ petition, read as under: "a) To spread knowledge of pedigreed dogs classified by means of promoting and supporting breed shows and in any other way as the Club may deem fit. b) To endeavour to promote the welfare of the pure pedigreed and registered dogs. c) To encourage and promote the rearing and selective breeding of dog on scientific lines, through well designed kennels, breeding, finding suitable and promote the importance of blood lines and protect the interest of the dog owners and to provide all possible counsel the help to the dog breeders. d) To find a suitable solution to the menace of stray dog, with the co-operation of local administration. e) To organize conferences, seminars, workshops, clinics, exhibitions and dog shows whenever possible, and to disseminate information through media. f) To endeavour to promote the availability of vaccines, modern medical facilities like clinical testing, X-ray and facilities of operation in local dispensaries, in conjunction with the local Animal Husbandry Department. g) To establish and maintain a library. h) To render all assistance, advise to new dog owners in the maintenance and care of dogs and to encourage and assist its members in breeding quality pedigree dogs. i) To co-operate and associate with other Kennel/Canine clubs and Association formed for similar purposes and registered with the Amritsar Kennal Club under the regulations of the Amritsar Kennel Club. j) To print and publish any News-letters, Bulletins, Gazettes, Magazines, Pamphlets, Circulars, Leaflets, and posters that may be considered for the promotion or carrying out any objectives of the Club and the maintenance of the Library. k) To acquire purchase, sell, own or take on lease any property, land, building etc. for fulfilling the objectives of the club and to approach the State Government/or any commercial organization for any support that the club may need in the form of Grant, License for conducting dog shows. l) To invest the funds of the Club which is not required immediately, in such manner from time to time as may be determined by the executive Committee and according to law. m) To initiate such activities which promote brotherhood and better liaison among fellow members. n) The sales, improvement and developments to all or part of the Club property. o) To spread knowledge of pure breed pedigreed dogs by periodically holding shows, and in any other way the Club may deem fit. p) To encourage breeders and Dog enthusiasts train their dogs for obedience, Security work, Agility Trials and Schutzhund Trials and to bring down if necessary trainers from abroad to educate breeders and show enthusiast in India."
(2.) The clubs promote and preserve the distinct canine breeds registered with the KCI after strict inspection and scrutiny of their traits, parentage, vaccinations, lineage etc. and are adjudged by the specialist judges, appointed from the panel of judges maintained by the KCI, on a comparative basis strictly as per the individual breed standards (written, compiled and drafted by the bred specialists, veterinarians and judges all over the world) of each competing dog.
(3.) According to the petitioners, the dog shows are conducted only to spread a scientific knowledge regarding various breeds and breed standards of the dogs and it is free of cost without any exhibition fee. It is alleged that the dog shows are basically, in the layman's word, a "beauty pageant", different from the training trials followed by the police, army, paramilitary forces, RPF, BSF, Bomb Squad, Commando Force and other law enforcement agencies etc. It is further alleged that the Indian Kennel Gazette had already issued Dog Shows Calendar as per which the dog shows shall take place on 27.12.2015 at Amritsar, on 31.01.2016 at Ludhiana, on 07.02.2016 at Patiala and on 14.02.2016 at Chandigarh.;