In a relief for animal lovers who have been protesting over the Supreme Court’s decision to send all stray dogs of Delhi-NCR to animal shelters, the apex court on Friday modified its previous order of August 11. The Supreme Court will also formulate a national policy on stray dogs.
A three-judge Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria said on Friday, August 22 that stray dogs shall be released from dog shelters after going through sterilisation, deworming and vaccination. The dogs will have to be released into the same locality from where they were picked up.
The Supreme Court said on Friday, “Prohibition on release of strays shall be stayed. They shall be dewormed, vaccinated etc and sent back to the same area.”
Any animal lover who wishes to adopt stray dogs, will have to apply to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) but a stray dog once adopted cannot be returned to the streets. Each municipal authority will have to create a dedicated helpline to report violation.
Dogs with rabies or aggressive behaviour will not be released: Supreme Court
However, this does not apply to dogs with rabies or those displaying aggressive behaviour. These dogs shall not be released into public spaces from shelters, the apex court clarified.
The judgment was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria, in the suo motu case titled “In Re: City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price.”
Supreme Court prohibits public feeding of stray dogs
The Supreme Court also gave clear instructions about feeding of stray dogs. Prohibiting public feeding of stray dogs, the court said that dedicated feeding spaces will have to be created. The court said, “No public feeding of dogs allowed. Dedicated feeding spaces of stray dogs to be created. There have been instances due to such feeding instances.”
“The Municipal authorities shall forthwith commence the exercise of creating dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs in each municipal ward. The feeding area shall be identified keeping in view with the population of stray dogs in the ward. Notice boards must be placed mentioning that stray dogs shall be fed only in such areas. Under no condition shall the feeding of stray dogs on the streets be permitted,” the Supreme Court said regarding stray dog feeding.
The court also instructed that persons found feeding the dogs in contravention of this direction “shall be liable to be proceeded with under the relevant framework.”
“The aforesaid direction is being issued in the light of 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 the said practice creates great difficulties for the common man walking in the streets,” the court said.
Supreme Court modifies August 11 verdict
Friday’s Supreme Court ruling is a modification of its previous verdict which was delivered on August 11. A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan heard the matter after taking suo moto cognizance of a news report on the rising incidents of rabies deaths following stray dog attacks in Delhi-NCR.
Amid rising cases of dog bites in Delhi and children being affected by rabies, the Supreme Court ruled on August 11 that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR should be sent to dedicated dog shelters within eight weeks, which will be set up by the concerned authorities. It stated that the stray dogs should be picked up from all localities from more particularly vulnerable localities and cities at the earliest.
The verdict was followed by nationwide protests from dog lovers and animal welfare organisations who felt this is not the right way to tackle the problem.
SC retains directions to animal rights activists against obstructing work of municipal bodies
On August 11, the Supreme Court had said that no petitions from dog lovers or any other party will be heard on this subject. The apex court had also stated that any organisation that tries to obstruct this exercise “will face the strictest action including contempt of court”.
On Friday, the court stated that its earlier directions to animal rights activists against obstructing the work of municipal bodies will stand.
Dog-lover and NGOs have to deposit money for their petition to be heard: SC
The Court also said that any dog lover or NGO which has approached the Court to intervene in the matter should deposit Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh with the Court respectively for their petition to be heard.
“Each individual dog lover and NGO that has has approached this court shall deposit Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh respectively with registry of this court within a period of seven days, failing which they shall not be allowed to appear in the matter any further,” the Court directed.
Nationwide policy for stray dogs to be formulated: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court issued notices to Animal Husbandry Secretaries of all States and UTs, seeking inputs on a national stray dog policy. The order’s ambit has been expanded beyond Delhi-NCR to cover the entire country — all States and Union Territories (UTs) as parties to the case. Earlier, the August 11 ruling was limited to the Delhi-NCR area. The Court said that it will formulate a national policy after hearing the case in detail.
Towards that end, the apex court transferred all similar cases pending before various High Courts to itself. “All similar matters shall be transferred to this court for a final national policy,” the order said.
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