New Delhi:The Supreme Court has directed the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, except West Bengal and Telangana, to appear physically before it on November 3 in connection with the ongoing stray dogs case. The court refused to allow virtual participation, emphasizing that the top officials must personally explain why they failed to comply with earlier orders.
During the hearing, the bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath dismissed requests from the Solicitor General to exempt the officers from personal attendance, expressing strong disapproval over their inaction. The court noted that despite repeated opportunities, the directions regarding the filing of compliance affidavits had not been followed.
“It is unfortunate that while the court grants time, no effective steps are taken by the authorities. They are ignoring the court’s order. Let them appear in person and explain the reasons for non-compliance,” Justice Nath observed during the proceedings.
The directive follows the court’s order of October 27, which required chief secretaries to explain their failure to submit affidavits as instructed earlier on August 22. On that date, the Supreme Court had widened the scope of the matter, making all states and Union Territories parties to the case and directing uniform implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules across the country.
The ongoing case concerns the growing issue of stray dog attacks and the lack of consistent enforcement of animal control measures. The court has been monitoring the implementation of the ABC Rules to ensure humane management of the stray dog population while safeguarding public safety.
The upcoming hearing is expected to review each state’s compliance status and lay down further directions to ensure accountability from local administrations and enforcement agencies.
