The Supreme Court ordered the states and concerned local bodies to take steps to sterilize and vaccinate nuisance causing stray dogs under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The court granted four weeks’ time to the states to respond and asked the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to draw up a module by 12 July.
The hearing was about a batch of appeals, including those filed by Animal Welfare Board and dog lovers against some of the high courts (Kerala and Bombay high courts among others) that allowed municipaly authorities to deal with stray dog menace the way they like.
The bench, headed by Justice Dipak Misra, observed that there is a need to balance compassion for animals and the existence of human beings.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), one of the respondents, told the court that more than 46,000 dog-bite cases were reported in 2015 and five deaths due to rabies were recorded. It also pointed fingers at NGOs for failing to take care of stray dogs. They also said that several cases of rabies were recorded in Mumbai itself.
Appearing for BMC, senior advocate Shekhar Naphade submitted a report on dog-bite cases from 1994 to 2015. The lawyer said that in 2015 alone there were 46,647 cases. “The NGOs just receive funds, do not do anything and only complain. They should be asked to give accounts of their works done for the welfare of such animals,” he said.
The final hearing for the issue on stray dogs is scheduled for 12 July.
