Supreme Court modifies stray dogs order, allows release from shelters after sterilisation
The Supreme Court Friday modified its August 11 order on stray dogs in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), which said they would be picked up from the streets and confined to dedicated shelters, and directed that such canines would be released in the area where they were collected from, after sterilisation, deworming, and vaccination.
A three-judge bench of Justices Vikaram Nath, Sandeep Metha, and N V Anjaria, however, clarified that the order would not apply to dogs infected with rabies or suspected to be infested with rabies, and those displaying aggressive behaviour.
Such dogs, the bench said, would be sterilised and immunised, and under no circumstances should be released back into the street. “Furthermore, as far as possible, such stray dogs shall be kept in a separate pound shelter after sterilisation and immunisation,” the bench said.
The court directed municipal authorities to begin an exercise for creating dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs in each municipal ward.
“The feeding areas shall be created and identified keeping in view the population and concentration of stray dogs in a particular municipal ward. Notice boards shall be placed near such designated feeding areas mentioning that stray dogs shall only be fed in such areas. Under no condition shall feeding of the stray dogs on the streets be permitted. The persons found feeding the dogs on the streets in contravention of the above direction shall be liable to be proceeded against under the relevant legal framework”.
“The aforesaid directions are being issued in view of the reports regarding untoward incidents caused by unregulated feeding of stray dogs, and to ensure that the practice of feeding dogs on roads and in public places is eliminated, as this creates great difficulties for the common man walking on the streets,” the court ordered.
The bench directed municipal authorities to create a dedicated helpline number for reporting incidents of violation of the order. “On such a report being received, appropriate measures shall be taken against the individuals/NGOs concerned.”
The court said that those obstructing public servants in carrying out the directions will be proceeded against.
The court also asked each dog lover and NGO, which approached the court, to deposit a sum of Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh, respectively, with the SC Registry within seven days, failing which they will not be allowed to appear in the matter any further.
“The desirous animal lovers shall be free to move an application with the concerned municipal body for adoption of the street dogs, upon which the identified street dogs shall be tagged and given in adoption to the applicant. It shall be the duty of those adopting to ensure that the adopted dog does not return to the streets.”
The court asked municipal authorities to file compliance reports with complete statistics of resources available as of the date for compliance with ABC Rules.
The court also asked each dog lover and NGO, which approached the court, to deposit a sum of Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh, respectively, with the SC Registry within seven days, failing which they will not be allowed to appear in the matter any further.
“The desirous animal lovers shall be free to move an application with the concerned municipal body for adoption of the street dogs, upon which the identified street dogs shall be tagged and given in adoption to the applicant. It shall be the duty of those adopting to ensure that the adopted dog does not return to the streets.”
The court asked municipal authorities to file compliance reports with complete statistics of resources available as of the date for compliance with ABC Rules.
