TAMIL NADU PANCHAYATS (LICENSING OF DOGS) RULES, 1999
In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (xxxii) of sub-section (2) of section 242 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994) and in supersession of the rules relating to Licensing of Dogs and Destruction of Unlicensed Dogs by Panchayats, the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby makes the following rules:--
1. Short title.--These rules may be called the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Licensing of Dogs) Rules, 1999.
2. Grant or renewal of licence.--Within thirty days from the commencement of every succeeding half-year, the owner or custodian of every dog, shall apply to the executive authority for the grant or renewal of the licence on payment of a licence fee of ten rupees. The executive authority of the village panchayat may grant a licence and a badge showing the number of the licence. The badge shall be tied to the neck of the dog.
3. Issue of public notice.--Every village panchayat may, or if so directed by the Inspector shall, give public notice in the manner provided for in rule 5 relating to the manner of publication of notice, that unlicensed dogs straying within the village panchayat limits shall be destroyed. When a notice has been given, the owner or custodian of every dog within such limits shall apply to the executive authority within thirty days from the date of such notice for grant or renewal of licence for the dog under his custody. After receipt of the application, the executive authority shall grant or renew licence as specified in rule 2.
4. Seizure of unlicensed dogs.--Any dog found straying in any public place without the badge duly obtained under rule 2 shall be liable to be seized by any person authorised by the executive authority in that behalf.
5. Detention of dogs seized.--When a dog is seized, the executive authority shall display a notice in the notice board of the village panchayat and in other public places like chavadi, informing the seizure of the unlicensed dogs and detention thereof and also informing the time within which such dogs may be resumed, on payment of licence fee with a penalty of five rupees per dog together with a detention charge of two rupees for every twenty-four hours of detention or part thereof.
6. Recovery, sale and destruction of seized dogs.--On payment of the licence fee, penalty and detention charge specified in rule 5, the executive authority shall return the dog to its owner or custodian. In default of such payment within the period specified under rule 5, the executive authority shall sell the dog in public auction, adjust the proceeds thereof to the payment of the licence fee, penalty and detention charge due to the village panchayat and shall return to the owner, or custodian of the dog, the balance, if any. If the sale proceeds are not sufficient to meet the licence fees, penalty and detention charge due to the village panchayat, the entire sum shall be credited to the village panchayat funds. If sold in auction, the executive authority shall cause its destruction and burial and in such cases, the amount due on licence fee, penalty and detention charge may be caused to be written off by the village panchayat.
7. Seizure and destruction of dogs in certain circumstances.--If in any village panchayat notified under sub-section (1) of section 76 of the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939 (Tamil Nadu Act III of 1939), regarding the out-break of rabies, the executive authority may, or if so required by the Deputy Director of Health Services and Preventive Medicine, shall make such arrangements as may be necessary for the seizure, detention, destruction or disposal of dogs in accordance with the Rabies (Prevention and Control) Rules, 1941.
8. Powers of the executive authority to seize the dogs suffering from rabies.--(1) The executive authority of the village panchayat or any person authorised by him may seize or destroy any stray dog which, in his opinion, is suffering from rabies or detain any such dog if he suspects it to be showing symptoms of rabies. In all such cases, the executive authority shall consult the Block Health Supervisor or the officer of the Animal Husbandry Department, having jurisdiction over the area and carry out any suggestions made by him.
(2) The executive authority may direct that any dog which he knows or suspects to be suffering from rabies or which has been bitten or snapped at by any rabies or suspicious dog, jackal or other animal shall, either be destroyed or at the opinion of its owner detained under observation at the expense of its owner in the place appointed for the purpose for such period as the executive authority may fix. Any dog kept under observation may be destroyed immediately, if it is found to be suffering from rabies or developing rabies. When any such direction made by the executive authority is not complied with, he shall make arrangements for such destruction or detention and the owner or other person in possession of the dog shall be bound to comply with such directions as may be given by the executive authority.
(3) Any person who has in his possession any dog which he knows or has reason to believe to be suffering from rabies or to have been bitten or snapped at any rabies or suspicious dog, jackal or other animal shall immediately intimate the fact in writing to the executive authority.
9. Penalty.--Whoever commits a breach of sub-rules (2) and (3) of rule 8 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees and in case of a continuing breach with fine which may extend to fifteen rupees for every day during which the breach continues after conviction for the first offence.
10. Maintenance of register.--(1) Every licence granted under rule 2 shall be entered in a register to be maintained for this purpose and it shall contain the name and address of the owner or custodian of the dog, the name, if any, and other particulars of the dog, the number and the date of issue of licence and the fee collected therefore.
(2) The executive authority shall also maintain a separate register showing the description of the dog seized, the time of its seizure, the name and address of its owner or custodian, the fee or charge collected, if any, the date of such collection, the time and date of its release, particulars of auction or destruction and the amount, if any, realised in the auction.
