The Supreme Court of India has reserved its order on an interim plea seeking a stay on its recent suo motu directive concerning stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region.
The earlier order, issued on August 11, had mandated the removal of all stray dogs from streets and public spaces and their relocation to shelters, with a strict prohibition on their release.
Arguments Presented
The interim plea was heard by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Project Kindness (an NGO), argued for a stay on the order, highlighting the lack of necessary infrastructure like shelter homes and the potential for chaos. He contended that the order, passed suo motu and without proper notice, was impractical as municipal corporations have failed to build adequate shelters or implement sterilization drives, despite receiving funds.
On the other hand, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Government of India, defended the court’s intervention, stating that a “silent majority” is suffering from the issue. He presented data on dog bites and rabies deaths, particularly among children, arguing that sterilization alone does not prevent rabies or mutilation. Mehta emphasized that the issue requires judicial intervention to protect public safety.
Background of the Case
The August 11 directive was a result of a suo motu case initiated by a two-judge bench following numerous incidents of dog bites and deaths from rabies in the national capital. The order had sparked widespread outrage and protests from animal rights activists and organizations, who criticized it as “unscientific” and “unworkable.” Following the backlash, the matter was mentioned before the Chief Justice, leading to the formation of the larger three-judge bench to hear the interim plea and other related petitions. The court’s decision on the interim stay is now awaited.
