Dog matters: CJI Gavai assures review of urgent plea on stray dogs

Chief Justice BR Gavai responded to an urgent mention of a plea on stray dogs, promising to examine the issue. The plea raised concerns about non-compliance with sterilisation and immunisation rules meant to control the stray population.

New Delhi: “I will look into it,” Chief Justice of India B R Gavai assured on Wednesday when a plea relating to stray dogs was mentioned for urgent hearing in the Supreme Court.

The plea by the Conference for Human Rights (India) was mentioned before a bench of the chief justice and Justice K Vinod Chandran by a lawyer.

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Another bench has already passed an order in relation to stray dogs, the CJI pointed out.

On August 11, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan observed that instances of dog bites had given rise to an “extremely grim” situation and ordered the permanent relocation of all strays in Delhi-NCR “at the earliest”.

On Wednesday, the lawyer referred to a May 2024 order passed by a bench led by Justice J K Maheshwari relegating petitions relating to the stray dog issue to respective high courts.

The CJI then assured that he will look into it.

The plea by Conference for Human Rights (India) claims the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001 mandating regular sterilisation and immunisation programmes for stray dogs to curtail their growing population are not being complied with.

In its August 11 ruling, the apex court also said dog shelters will have to be augmented over time and directed Delhi authorities to start with creating shelters of around 5,000 canines within six to eight weeks.

Besides, the bench warned of strict action against an individual or organisation in case of any kind of obstruction in the relocation drive that might also prompt the court to initiate contempt proceedings.