Supreme Court's Big Order On Stray Dogs, Cattle At Railway Stations, Highways

Amid the "alarming rise" in dog bite cases, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, sports complexes, and railway stations, directing that the canines be sent to designated dog shelters.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria, which is monitoring stray dog-bite incidents through a suo motu proceeding, directed the authorities to prevent the dogs from entering the premises of government and public institutions. It also said that they must not be released back to the same place where they were picked up.

The court directed the local municipal authorities to carry out regular inspections of all premises to ensure no stray dog habitat exists. "Every stray dog is to be forthwith removed from such premises and relocated to a shelter after sterilisation," it said.

The removal should be done within eight weeks, the court said.

It also noted that all states and union territories should take steps to rectify the lapses highlighted by the amicus curiae (court-appointed lawyer) in complying with the ABC rules directed by the court.

According to the bench, the comprehensive affidavits must be filed before the next hearing, indicating remedial measures to rectify lapses highlighted in the report. "Any laxity will be viewed seriously," it said.

The matter will be heard further on January 13.

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

The court also directed all states and union territories, the National Highway Authority, and civic bodies to ensure the removal of stray cattle and other animals from national highways, state highways, and other roads. The court also ordered to set up a dedicated highway patrol team that will get a hold of stray cattle on the roads and ensure they are shifted to shelter homes, where proper care will be provided.

"All national highways will have helpline numbers for reporting stray cattle. The chief secretaries of all states will ensure strict compliance with these directives," it said.

The court said the cattle and other animals must be provided with all necessary care, with the chief secretaries of all states and union territories ensuring strict compliance with it. Otherwise, officers will be held responsible, it said.

Stray dogs case

The top court, in July, had ruled that all stray dogs in the national capital and adjoining regions must be shifted away from residential localities to shelters, given the rising cases of dog bites leading to rabies deaths. According to the court, the dog shelters must have professionals who can tackle dogs, carry out sterilisation and immunisation, and not let the canines out. Terming the stray dog menace in the city as "extremely grim", the Supreme Court had warned that any individual or organisation blocking the picking up of stray dogs by authorities will face the "strictest action".

In another other, it had directed that the animals would be released back into the same area after sterilisation and immunisation. However, the three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria had made it clear that the relocation would not apply to dogs infected with rabies or suspected to be infected with rabies and those displaying aggressive behaviour.

The court had also directed the municipal authorities to create a dedicated feeding space where people can feed stray dogs, adding that public feeding will not be allowed - and if violated, strict action would follow.