The Supreme Court on Monday expressed serious concern over India’s growing stray dog menace, stating that continuous attacks are tarnishing the country’s global image. Justice Vikram Nath remarked, “Continuous incidents are happening. Your country is being perceived negatively by foreign nations. We are also reading news reports.” Later, when a counsel referred to cruelty against dogs, the court responded by asking, “What about the cruelty towards humans?”
Dog Issue Prompts Action
The court criticised several states for not filing compliance reports and summoned their Chief Secretaries, excluding West Bengal, Delhi, and Telangana. It also cautioned against unnecessary interventions, advising Resident Welfare Associations to offer only reasonable suggestions. The ongoing case, which began after fatal attacks and rabies deaths in Delhi-NCR, has increased rapidly.
Earlier, a two-judge bench ordered the capture of all stray dogs, a move later softened by a special three-judge bench. The court now seeks a unified national policy under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, to address this urgent issue.
