Remove Stray Dogs From Near Schools, Hospitals, Move Them To Shelters After Sterilisation: Supreme Court's BIG Verdict

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed all states and union territories (UTs) to remove stray dogs from near schools, colleges, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations, and other public places to control rising incidents of fog bites. The top court further ordered authorities to relocate stray dogs to shelters after vaccination and sterilisation in according to the Animal Birth Control Rules

The order was passed by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria,in the suo motu stray dogs matter. The court also directed authorities to fence the public places to avoid the entry of stray dogs.

The apex court in its order stated that stray dogs picked up from these places should not be must not be released at the same spot.

The bench asked the authorities, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to undertake a joint drive to identify stretches of highways where stray animals are frequently found.

The next date of hearing is scheduled on January 13.

The apex court is hearing a suo motu case, which was initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.

It had expanded the scope of the stray dogs case beyond the confines of Delhi-National Capital Region, and directed that all states and Union territories be made parties in the matter.

What Supreme Court Observed On October 27:

On October 27, the Supreme Court pulled up the state governments for not filing an affidavit complying to its August 22 order on stray dogs. The top court had said that India's image has been hit globally due to the stray dog menace. The apex court had noted that only West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had submitted their affidavits.

“Didn’t the officers read newspapers or social media? Haven’t they read... even if they are not served, the affidavit should have been here. All Chief Secretaries remain present here on November 3,” the Justice Nath-led Bench had remarked.

The Supreme Court then directed the chief secretaries of states and Union Territories, other than West Bengal and Telangana, to appear before it on November 3 to explain why compliance affidavits were not filed in the stray dogs case.

Supreme Court's August 22 Order:

In its August 22 order, the top court expanded the scope of the stray dogs case beyond the confines of Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and directed that all states and Union Territories be made parties in the matter.

In its order, the apex court modified its August 11 order, in which it had directed authorities to shift all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters. In the order, the Supreme Court ordered the release of stray dogs after sterilisation.