The Supreme Court on Thursday commenced in-depth proceedings on the contentious issue of stray dogs in the Delhi-National Capital Region, a matter now at the centre of public safety and animal welfare debates. A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria is presiding over the case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented stark figures to the court, revealing that India reported over 37 lakh dog bite incidents in the past year. “Nobody is an animal hater, but children are dying. This issue needs to be resolved, not contested,” Mehta stressed, urging swift intervention.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing petitioners challenging a recent directive, underscored the seriousness of the matter, warning against hasty measures. He called for the suspension of the August 11 order, issued by a two-judge bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, which directed authorities to begin removing stray dogs from public spaces in Delhi-NCR and relocating them to newly established shelters.
That order mandated the immediate creation of dog shelters, with authorities required to report back within eight weeks. It further stipulated that detained stray dogs must not be released back into streets, colonies, or other public areas. The directive was part of a suo motu proceeding initiated on July 28 following reports of fatal rabies cases, particularly among children, linked to stray dog bites in the capital region.
The present hearing is expected to weigh the urgent need to safeguard citizens against the rights and humane treatment of animals, with the bench indicating that the “very serious” issue warrants a thorough legal examination.
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