Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 7: Amid the alarming rise in dog-bite cases across the country, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, sports complexes, and railway stations. The apex court ordered that the canines be relocated to designated dog shelters within eight weeks.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, which is monitoring stray dog-bite incidents through a suo motu proceeding, instructed authorities to prevent dogs from entering the premises of government and private educational institutions and hospitals. The court further clarified that the animals must not be released back to the same place from where they were picked up.
The matter will be heard again on January 13. The suo motu case was initiated on July 28 following reports of fatal dog-bite incidents leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.
In addition, the bench directed all states, union territories, and civic bodies, along with the National Highways Authority of India, to ensure the removal of stray cattle from highways and other public roads. A dedicated highway patrol team will be formed to capture and relocate stray cattle to shelter homes, where they will be provided proper care.
“All national highways will have helpline numbers for reporting stray cattle. The chief secretaries of all states will ensure strict compliance with these directives,” the court stated.
Earlier, in July, the top court had termed the stray dog menace in Delhi and adjoining regions as “extremely grim” and ordered that all stray dogs be shifted to shelters. The court also directed that these shelters employ professionals to handle, sterilise, and immunise the dogs. It warned that any individual or organisation obstructing the authorities from removing stray dogs would face strict action.
The bench had further instructed that municipal bodies create dedicated feeding zones for stray dogs, banning public feeding in open areas. Violations of this order, it said, would invite penal action.