With a view to striking a balance between safety of human beings from dog bites and protection of animals, the Supreme Court on Wednesday empowered authorities across the country to sterilise or vacci
With a view to striking a balance between safety of human beings from dog bites and protection of animals, the Supreme Court on Wednesday empowered authorities across the country to sterilise or vaccinate stray dogs in accordance with the procedure contemplated in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the rules.
Giving this direction, a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant made it clear that no organisation should create any kind of obstacle or impediment for such sterilisation or vaccination. We are sure that the board and the Animal Welfare Organisation shall act within the parameters of the Act and the rules.
Earlier senior advocate and amicus curiae Dushyant A. Dave submitted that though the Act and rules provide for sterilisation of dogs so that safety of human beings is not jeopardised, yet they are not being sterilised by authorities, either for lack of funds or due to apathy. He said none of the activists or animal lovers come forward whenever there is a dog bite and even when some children had been killed by stray dogs, they did not bother to come to their rescue. He said due to stray dog menace, many foreigners are not willing to come to India and this menace is affecting the tourism industry.
Senior advocate Shekar Naphade, for Mumbai municipal council, said that it is the duty of the board and the animal welfare organisation to assist local authorities and not to create impediment.
The bench noted that stress has been laid that due to stray dogs, there has been threat to life, health, movement and sometimes security of human beings. On the other hand, it has been highlighted that the stray dogs are being annihilated without any justifiable reason. The bench pointed out that pursuant to its earlier order in November 2015, only two states had responded. In Wednes-day’s order, the bench granted further six weeks’ time to the chief secretaries to send status report to the animal welfare board.
On receipt of the report, the bench asked senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, appearing for the animal welfare board, to file a module keeping in view the parameters of the Act and the rules for appropriate implementation. Needless to emphasise, the Union of India shall be at liberty to work out the module. The bench directed the matter to be listed for further hearing on July 12.
