NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday modified the earlier order by its two-judge bench passed on August 11, which directed the relocation of stray dogs from the streets of national capital, Noida and Gurugram. The bench led by Justice Vikram Nath said that all matters shall be transferred to the top court for a final national policy. “After the last hearing, we have suggested some modifications,” Nath said. The bench said that the dogs which are picked up must be released after sterilisation and immunisation, except those infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour, according to Live Law. Justice Nath added that the dogs with rabies or aggressive behaviour shall not be released. “No public feeding of dogs allowed. Dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs are to be created. There have been instances due to such feeding instances,” he added, according to Live Law. 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.”Earlier on August 14, the bench had reserved its order while blaming the inaction and inefficiency of local authorities in implementing Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules for the proliferation of stray dogs on the streets of NCR. After nationwide outrage over an order passed by a two-judge Bench led by Justice J B Pardiwala earlier on August 11, Chief Justice B R Gavai transferred the case to a three-judge bench. The two-judge bench had ordered municipal bodies in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad to relocate all stray dogs to designated shelters.Ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the relocation of stray dogs, a large number of animal activists and caregivers assembled at the Jantar Mantar.
Key Directions from the Supreme Court
- Two-judge bench directions (Para 12) to be complied with.
- Prohibition on release kept in abeyance; strays can be released except rabid/aggressive dogs, which must be sheltered.
- Para 12.5 subject to present directions.
- MCD to create feeding areas in each ward; feeding outside zones strictly prohibited, violators liable under law.
- MCD to set up a helpline for reporting violations.
- Para 13 modified: Obstruction of public servants will attract liability; NGOs/animal lovers obstructing compliance to pay Rs 25,000.
- Animal lovers may apply to MCD for the adoption of stray dogs.
- Scope extended pan-India; notices to States, UTs, and Animal Husbandry Depts for compliance with ABC Rules.
- Registry to gather details of stray dog cases pending in High Courts; all such cases to be transferred to SC.
