Amid an alarming surge in dog bite incidents across the country, the Supreme Court (SC) of India on Friday issued a significant directive ordering the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, sports complexes, and railway stations. The apex court directed that all such dogs to relocate to designated shelters within eight weeks.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, which is monitoring the stray dog menace through a suo motu case, instructed authorities to ensure that stray dogs are not allowed to re-enter public or government premises once removed. The bench also mandated regular inspections by local municipal bodies to confirm that no stray dog habitats exist in such areas.
“Every stray dog to forthwith removed from such premises and relocated to a shelter after sterilisation,” the court said in it order, adding that laxity in compliance will viewed seriously.
The Supreme Court further directed all states and union territories to rectify lapses pointed out by the amicus curiae regarding the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. Comprehensive affidavits highlighting corrective measures must filed before the next hearing, scheduled for January 13.
The suo motu case initiated on July 28, following reports of increasing rabies-related deaths, particularly among children, caused by stray dog bites in the national capital.
In addition to the stray dog issue, the Supreme Court also ordered the removal of stray cattle and other animals from national and state highways. The court directed the National Highway Authority and state civic bodies to set up dedicated highway patrol teams to capture stray cattle and shift them to shelters for proper care.
“All national highways will have helpline numbers for reporting stray cattle. The Chief Secretaries of all states will ensure strict compliance, and officers will held accountable for negligence,” the court stated.
