Stray dogs to be sent to shelters as top court orders their removal from hospitals, railway stations, and…

The Supreme Court has given an order for the removal of stray dogs to all the states and union territories.

The Supreme Court of India issued an order on Friday regarding the removal of stray dogs. According to the order, dogs must be removed from the educational premises, railway stations, bus stations, sports facilities, and hospitals. The top court’s directive applies to all states and union territories, including national highway authorities and civic bodies. This decision comes after the rapid increase in the ‘dog bite’ cases across the country. In addition, the apex court has suggested that local bodies need to conduct timely inspections to keep a check on the same. It is to avoid the formation of canine colonies in educational institutions and public places.

Who gave the order on stray dogs?

The order on the removal of stray dogs was given by a special bench of the Supreme Court. The bench included three judges: Justice Sandeep Mehta, Justice Vikram Nath, and Justice NV Anjaria. The board gave this order during a hearing on the suo moto case of the threat posed by stray dogs.

What did the bench say?

According to the bench, it’s the responsibility of self-government institutes to make sure that canines are removed from educational premises, railway stations, bus stations, sports facilities, and hospitals; put on sterilisation and vaccination as per the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules; and shifted to the dog shelters.

The ABC rules are a set of guidelines to manage the population of stray dogs through sterilisation and vaccination.

Directives for states

The states have to provide a status report within a time period of eight weeks, including the development of procedures and mechanisms in detail to enforce the orders.

After the warning was issued to the state authorities, the three judges directed all states’ and UT’s chief secretaries to ensure strict compliance. It even mentioned that the officers (if any) who fail to perform their duties would be personally held accountable.