New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday took a stern view of the continuing stray dog menace across the country, summoning the Chief Secretaries of all states except West Bengal, Delhi, and Telangana for failing to submit compliance reports on the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria directed the officials to personally appear before the court on November 3, warning that failure to do so would invite costs or coercive measures. The judges observed that despite clear directions, most states had not acted to control the growing number of stray dogs or filed their compliance affidavits.
Expressing strong concern, Justice Nath remarked that frequent dog attacks were being reported nationwide and had started affecting India’s image globally. “Continuous incidents are happening. The image of the country is being shown as down in the eyes of foreign nations,” he said. When an advocate referred to cases of cruelty against dogs, the bench responded, “What about cruelty towards humans?”
The court also criticised the large number of intervention applications being filed by various individuals and groups. “If every residents’ welfare association wants to become a party, how many crores of parties will we have before us? Suggestions should be reasonable,” the bench noted.
The issue has been under close judicial scrutiny since August, when the Supreme Court ordered the rounding up of stray dogs in Delhi, prioritising vulnerable localities. The directive, which required the creation of shelters for at least 5,000 dogs, faced backlash from animal rights activists and was later modified by a three-judge bench led by Justice Nath. The revised order allowed the release of vaccinated and dewormed dogs and expanded the scope of the case nationwide, consolidating related petitions from various High Courts.
The court will next review the states’ compliance and discuss a comprehensive policy framework to address the stray dog crisis on a national scale.
