“Remove Stray Dogs, Animals From Bus Stands, Railway Stations”: Supreme Court’s Big Order

The Supreme Court of India on Friday directs all States and Union Territories, National Highway Authority, and civic bodies to remove stray cattle from National Highways, state highways and roads. Court orders removal of stray dogs from the premises of educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations, etc, and directs them to be shifted to dog shelters.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria issued the order in the ongoing suo motu case concerning the stray dog menace. The court stated that local self-government bodies would be responsible for ensuring that stray dogs are picked up, vaccinated, sterilized, and relocated to dog shelters as per the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.

Furthermore, the court made it clear that the dogs must not be released back to the same location from which they were picked up. “Permitting the same would frustrate the very purpose of liberating such institutions from the presence of stray dogs,” the bench observed.

The justices further directed periodic inspections by local bodies to ensure that no stray dog habitats develop around educational institutions, hospitals, or transport hubs.

Afterwards, Senior Advocates Anand Grover and Karuna Nundy urged the court to reconsider, arguing that new dogs would occupy the vacated spaces. However, the bench refused to entertain the submissions and upheld its directives.

Stray Cattle Removal From Highways And Expressways

In addition to addressing the dog menace, the Supreme Court affirmed the Rajasthan High Court’s directions for the removal of stray cattle and animals from highways and expressways. “A joint coordinated drive shall be undertaken to immediately remove all such animals found on highways, roadways, and expressways,” the bench ordered.

The animals are to be shifted to goshalas or shelter homes, and the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories have been directed to ensure strict compliance. “If the directions are not implemented, officers will be held personally responsible,” the court warned, directing that a status report be filed within eight weeks detailing the mechanisms developed for enforcement.

Background

The issue first came before the Supreme Court on July 28, when a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan took suo motu cognizance following a Times of India report titled “In a city hounded by strays, kids pay price.”

On August 11, the bench directed the Delhi government to begin relocating stray dogs to shelters and prohibited their release. The order also applied to Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, while warning against any obstruction of municipal operations.

However, after some lawyers raised concerns before CJI BR Gavai, the matter was transferred to a three-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath on August 13. The new bench stayed the August 11 order on August 22, terming the earlier prohibition “too harsh.”

The court clarified that stray dogs should be released back to their original areas after sterilization and vaccination, except those infected or aggressive. It also banned public feeding of strays outside designated areas and expanded the case’s scope nationwide, bringing all States and Union Territories under its purview.

READ MORE: Delhi Air Quality Drops From ‘Poor’ To ‘Very Poor’ Category, Overall AQI Stands At 312