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The Supreme Court on Friday issued sweeping directions mandating that all educational institutions, hospitals, public sports complexes, railway stations, bus stands and depots be properly fenced to prevent the entry of stray dogs, as it acknowledged an “alarming rise of dog-bite incidents” across the country. A special three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria passed the directions while hearing the suo motu case on the menace of stray dogs. The bench said it would be the duty of the local self-government institutions to ensure that stray dogs are captured from such premises and relocated to designated dog shelters after being vaccinated and sterilised in line with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The bench made it clear that the animals, once picked up, must not be released back in the same area. “Permitting the same would frustrate the very purpose of liberating such institutions from the presence of stray dogs,” the court observed in its order. Further, the court directed that periodic inspections be carried out by local bodies to ensure no stray dog colonies or feeding zones emerge within institutional or public premises. Soon after the pronouncement, senior advocates Anand Grover and Karuna Nundy, appearing in the matter, urged the bench to consider their submissions before signing the order. Nundy cautioned that if dogs were removed, “new dogs will occupy the same spot.” The bench, however, declined to reopen the issue, with Justice Mehta remarking that the directions had already been finalised. DIRECTIONS ON REMOVAL OF STRAY CATTLE, OTHER ANIMALS In a parallel set of directions, the top court also turned its attention to the rising number of stray cattle and animals on public roads, highways, and expressways. In reference to the approach taken by the Rajasthan High Court, the bench ordered that a joint and coordinated drive be undertaken immediately by all states and Union Territories to remove such animals from highways and major roads. “A joint coordinated drive shall be undertaken to immediately remove all such animals found on highways, roadways, and expressways, including cattle,” the court said. The animals, it directed, must be shifted to goshalas or designated shelters. Issuing a stern warning to state administrations, the bench ordered that chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories must ensure strict compliance, failing which officers would be held personally responsible. The states have been asked to file a status report within eight weeks, outlining the mechanisms developed to enforce the directives. EARLIER HEARINGS IN THE STRAY DOGS CASE On November 3, the Supreme Court had said it will issue directions on November 7 with respect to the stray dogs menace being faced in institutions, including government and public sector ones, where employees are supporting, feeding and encouraging the canines. One of the advocates appearing in the matter had urged the bench that they be heard prior to passing of directions on the issue. The bench noted that the chief secretaries of most of the states and Union Territories were present before it. It allowed the exemption application filed by the chief secretary of Kerala and noted that a principal secretary of the state was present in the court. The bench said the Animal Welfare Board of India should be made a party in the matter. Earlier, on August 22, the top court had asked the states and UTs about the steps being taken for compliance of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The bench had expressed displeasure over the non-compliance of its order and observed that by October 27, compliance affidavits were not filed by the states and UTs, except West Bengal, Telangana and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). On October 27, the top court had slammed the states and UTs, which had not filed their compliance affidavits in the matter, and said continuous incidents were happening and the country was being “shown as down” in foreign nations. ALSO READ | 7-Year-Old Girl Mauled By Stray Dogs In Telangana; Locals Demand Urgent Action
