SC Summons Chief Secretaries Over Stray Dog Management
Top court to hear suo motu case on November 3; directs all states and UTs, except West Bengal and Telangana, to ensure personal presence
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Nov: The Supreme Court will on Monday (November 3) hear the suo motu case related to stray dog management across India, directing Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories — barring West Bengal and Telangana — to remain personally present before it.
A special bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria will preside over the matter, which concerns the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. The top court had earlier expressed displeasure over several states’ failure to comply with its directions.
During the last hearing on October 27, the bench criticised most state governments for not filing compliance affidavits despite orders issued on August 22. “Didn’t the officers read newspapers or social media? Even if they were not served, the affidavit should have been here,” the court remarked, adding that all Chief Secretaries must appear on November 3.
On October 31, the Supreme Court rejected Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s plea to allow virtual appearances, insisting on physical presence.
The court had directed all states and UTs to file affidavits outlining steps taken to enforce the ABC Rules — including sterilisation, vaccination, and establishment of animal shelters. It warned of possible coercive measures and costs for continued non-compliance.
Emphasising the broader implications, the bench said the recurring stray dog incidents were tarnishing India’s global image. “Continuous incidents are happening, and the image of the country is being shown as down in the eyes of foreign nations,” the court noted.
