Court dismisses requests to change orders regarding moving and sterilizing stray dogs.

The Supreme Court of India recently made a significant decision regarding the rights of citizens to live with dignity and without fear of stray dogs. On Tuesday, the court dismissed all applications and petitions seeking to overturn its previous directions on the relocation and sterilisation of strays. Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, who presided over the case, also issued a series of instructions to states, union territories, and other governing bodies to improve their infrastructure for dealing with stray dogs.

The bench noted that there has been a lack of sustained and systematic efforts by states and union territories to address the increasing population of stray dogs. They observed that the implementation of the Animal Birth Control framework has been sporadic, underfunded, and inconsistent across different jurisdictions. The court emphasized that the right to live with dignity includes the right to live without the threat of dog bites.

Therefore, it cannot ignore the harsh realities on the ground, where incidents of dog bites have affected children, travelers, and the elderly. In light of this, the Supreme Court directed all states and union territories to work together to improve their infrastructure for dealing with stray dogs. The court had reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions seeking modifications to its earlier order on the relocation and sterilisation of strays.

During the hearing, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the efforts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu in complying with its directions. The apex court also took note of the alarming increase in dog-bite incidents in institutional areas, such as educational institutions, hospitals, and railway stations. In its previous order, the court had directed the immediate relocation of stray dogs to designated shelters after being sterilised and vaccinated.

It also prohibited the release of stray dogs back to their original location. Additionally, the court instructed authorities to remove all cattle and other stray animals from state highways, national highways, and expressways. The case before the Supreme Court was initiated in July last year in response to a media report on the rising cases of dog bites and rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.

The court is determined to protect the rights of citizens to live with dignity and without fear, and it will continue to monitor the situation and take necessary actions to address the stray dog menace.