Observing that “the arc of justice must extend even to those who cannot approach the courts themselves”, the High Court of Karnataka set aside a trial court order directing that nine abused dogs be handed back to their alleged tormentor during the pendency of the investigation. It called the order “preposterous to say the least” and one that “shocks the conscience of the court.”

Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order while allowing a petition filed by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which had challenged a metropolitan magistrate court’s April 25, 2026, order allowing the plea of Ramesh, the owner of the dogs, to have the animals — six Golden Retrievers and three Shih Tzus — handed back to his custody.

Oral complaint

PETA, acting on an oral complaint from a neighbour of the dog owner, had lodged a complaint with the Peenya police, who registered a First Information Report on February 15 against the owner for alleged cruelty, including repeated beatings and sexual abuse of the animals.

“A perusal of the magistrate court’s order shocks the conscience of this court,” the High Court said after examining video evidence and photographs, which it said depicted the owner repeatedly beating the dogs and treating them “like chattels that he can deal with as and how he wants.”

The High Court also expressed bewilderment over how the lower court could justify returning the animals to the alleged perpetrator while the investigation into the allegations was still under way.

Entitled to dignity

Pointing out that the law now recognises animals as living beings entitled to dignity, compassion and protection from cruelty, the High Court observed: “The measure of a civilised society is often reflected not merely in how it treats its fellow humans, but in how it extends mercy and justice to the voiceless creatures that inhabit its shared world. Therefore, every act of cruelty against an animal is not merely an injury to a sentient being, but a blemish on the collective human conscience.”

The High Court had ordered that the dogs be retained in the custody of animal welfare organisations, where they have been sheltered since their seizure, pending completion of the probe.