Stray dog menace growing due to local bodies' inaction, says SC; reserves order

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday blamed the "inaction" of local authorities for the growing stray dog problem in Delhi-NCR, as it reserved its order on a plea seeking a stay on its earlier directions to remove stray dogs from public spaces. A two-judge bench of the apex court had on August 11 directed authorities to begin removing stray dogs from all localities "at the earliest" and relocate them to shelters. The directive came amid rising concerns over dog bites and rabies cases.

On Thursday, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, and comprising Justices Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria, noted: "The whole problem is because of the inaction of local authorities." The bench added that all parties who have approached the court or filed interventions must take responsibility.

The Delhi government, during the hearing, highlighted the severity of the issue, saying children were dying from rabies due to dog bites. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, said there were over 37 lakh reported dog bites in a year across the country. "Nobody is an animal hater," he told the court, emphasising the need for practical solutions.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing an NGO that cares for stray dogs, called the situation "very serious" and sought a stay on the August 11 directions, particularly those mandating the immediate relocation of stray dogs to shelters.

On August 11, the apex court had also directed authorities to create dedicated dog shelters or pounds within eight weeks and report the progress. It had clearly stated that stray dogs should not be released back into streets, colonies, or public places. The directions were part of a suo motu case initiated on July 28, following rising cases of dog bites, particularly affecting children, in the national capital.
(With PTI inputs)