In a move that could change the face of Delhi-NCR forever, the Supreme Court has dropped a bombshell — all stray dogs on the streets are to be moved into shelters. For some, it is a long-awaited move toward safer streets, while others may be emotionally devastated as the familiar furry faces that have become a part of their everyday lives may be lost. As the city prepares for this major transformation, the argument between public safety and animal freedom is heating up more than ever before.
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that all stray dogs be taken from the streets of Delhi-NCR and placed in authorized shelters. The bench heard the case alone and declared that the action was “for nothing else but the public good.” It also ordered that authorities start collecting strays “from all localities, more particularly vulnerable localities and cities,” and that the shelters be provided with CCTV cameras “to ensure that dogs are not released.”
Supreme Court Orders Quick Action On Stray Dogs
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) were among the authorities urged by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan to take immediate action, construct the shelters, and provide the court with an update on infrastructure development within eight weeks.
The bench decided that stray dogs should not be allowed into public areas and that shelters need to have enough staff to sterilize and vaccinate them. It stated that CCTV should be used to monitor the centers to make sure no dogs are released.
“This is for the benefit of the public, not for ourselves. Therefore, no feelings of any kind should be expressed. The quickest possible action should be taken,” Justice Pardiwala stated. “Rescue dogs from all areas and carry them to shelters. For the time being, respect the regulations,” he told Gaurav Agarwal, his amicus curiae, who offered solutions to the problem of stray dogs.
Upon requesting the opinion of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Justice Pardiwala was informed that a location in Delhi had been found for the relocation of stray dogs; however, the plan was put on hold after animal rights activists secured a stay order.
The court was hearing Senior Advocate Gaurav Agrawal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who praised the court’s intervention. They were appointed as amici curiae to support the bench. They proposed that the ABC rule requiring return to the same area “must go” because “there is no evidence that sterilization stops dog bites or eliminates the threat of rabies.”
In Delhi: 49 Rabies Cases; 35,198 Animal Bites Reported
News agency PTI reported last month that 49 rabies cases were registered in the nation’s capital between January and June of this year, using official statistics from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. During this time, the capital saw up to 35,198 reports of animal bite incidents.
Rabies, which is an infectious disease mainly spread by dog bites, has a relatively high death rate and kills around 60,000 people annually. The World Health Organization reports that 36% of these deaths occur in India.
As reported by PTI last month, official data from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi indicates that between January and June of this year, 49 rabies cases were detected in the nation’s capital. The capital saw up to 35,198 reports of animal bite events throughout this period.
SC Rejects Activist’s Plea
The court rejected prominent lawyer Sidharth Luthra’s request to step in on behalf of animal rights campaigner Gauri Maulekhi. “All applications for intervention are denied.”
“This issue should not be influenced by any kind of sentiment. The first possible action must be taken. Will the lives lost be brought back by animal rights activists? The kids who have been bitten by dogs? Now is the moment to take action and save them,” the bench observed.
Helpline To Report Dog Bites
Within eight weeks, the state of NCT Delhi, MCD, and NDMC were ordered by the court to establish dog shelters with enough staff to sterilize and vaccinate the animals. Authorities must begin collecting strays “from all localities, more particularly vulnerable localities and cities,” and the shelters must be watched over by CCTV to ensure that dogs are not released.
Additionally, the judge ordered that a helpline be established within a week so that cases of dog bites can be reported immediately. After receiving a complaint, the authorities are required to make sure that the stray dogs are picked up within four hours. The court added that the collected animals should be sterilized, immunized, and not released, and that “any resistance by any individual or organization would be viewed strictly, and we may proceed for contempt in coming in the way of this Court.”
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