Supreme Court (Social Media)
National News: The Supreme Court has issued a strong directive to the Delhi government and municipal bodies to begin an urgent drive to remove stray dogs from public spaces across Delhi-NCR. The court’s order comes in the wake of growing public concern over frequent dog bite cases and a rise in rabies incidents in the capital region.
Hearing the matter on Monday, a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan described the stray dog issue as “extremely serious” and called for prompt action. The MCD and NDMC have been instructed to round up stray dogs from all parts of the city and move them to designated shelters.
The court said these measures must start immediately, prioritizing safety in public areas, residential colonies, and roads. The order follows the court’s suo motu action on July 28 after media reports highlighted an alarming number of dog bite cases in recent months.
For the initial phase, the court has asked authorities to set up facilities capable of accommodating about 5,000 dogs. These shelters should have sufficient staff and resources to carry out sterilization and vaccination drives.
“Stray animals must not be allowed to roam free in public areas. We are issuing these orders in the interest of public safety,” the bench stated.
The top court warned that anyone attempting to obstruct the capture of stray dogs would face strict legal consequences. This applies to individuals as well as organizations opposing the move. “All rules can be kept aside for the moment; the priority is to safeguard children, the elderly, and all citizens from the threat of rabies,” the bench remarked.
The bench also instructed the Delhi government to set up a citywide helpline within seven days for reporting dog bite incidents. The helpline will act as a quick-response channel to ensure timely medical help and follow-up by civic agencies.
Delhi’s Animal Husbandry Minister Kapil Mishra welcomed the decision, calling it a “step towards making Delhi free from the fear of rabies and stray animals.” He said the order would be implemented fully, with an equal focus on animal welfare.
“Under the leadership of CM Rekha Gupta, we will work with all agencies to ensure this order is carried out effectively and humanely,” Mishra added.
While the emphasis is on removing dogs from the streets to protect citizens, the court made it clear that their welfare must not be neglected. Authorities have been told to provide proper shelter conditions, food, and medical care for all captured animals. This directive sets the stage for one of the largest stray dog control operations in the region, aiming to make Delhi’s streets safer while ensuring ethical treatment of the animals involved.
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