The Supreme Court on Friday modified its earlier suo motu order that had mandated the confinement of all stray dogs to shelters across Delhi-NCR, permitting their release back into their original places of habitation after sterilisation and vaccination, except for those infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour.
A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice N.V. Anjaria said, “The earlier prohibition on release shall remain in abeyance. The dogs, once dewormed and vaccinated, shall be returned to the same area.”
It further directed that public feeding of dogs will not be permitted. Instead, dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs are to be created, with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) tasked with setting up such areas in municipal wards.
The court also said that animal lovers can apply to the MCD for the adoption of dogs.
Expanding the ambit of its proceedings on the menace of stray dogs, the court issued notices to the Secretaries of the Animal Husbandry Departments of all states and Union Territories, seeking their response on framing a national policy to deal with the issue.
The Registry has also been directed to seek information from all High Courts where petitions related to stray dogs are pending, with instructions that such matters be transferred to the Supreme Court.
Hailing the verdict, Supreme Court lawyer and petitioner Nanita Sharma called it a “balanced order.” She said, “The court has involved all states in this case. All matters regarding dog issues pending in courts across the country will be brought under one. They have said that regular dogs should be sterilised, and aggressive dogs should be kept in pounds or animal shelters. The court has ruled that the MCD will establish designated feeding areas for dogs.”
ANI