Supreme Court orders removal of all stray dogs from Delhi streets
Supreme Court orders removal of all stray dogs from Delhi streets
New Delhi —
The Supreme Court has issued strict directions to tackle the rising problem of stray dogs in Delhi, ordering that all strays roaming the streets be caught and sent to dog shelters within eight weeks. The court warned that any person or organisation obstructing this process will face legal action, including contempt of court charges.
A bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan made the order on Monday while taking suo motu cognisance of the matter on July 28. The judges expressed concern over the increasing number of dog-bite cases, questioning whether those who died from rabies could be brought back.
The court directed the establishment of shelters for around 5,000 stray dogs in Delhi, along with deploying adequate staff for sterilisation and vaccination. It ordered that no stray dogs be released back onto the streets, lanes, or residential colonies.
The Delhi government and NDMC have been told to begin the removal process immediately. The court also instructed the creation of a helpline within a week for reporting dog-bite incidents.
The bench further stressed that newborns and small children must be protected from attacks and that any interference in the capture of stray dogs will invite strict action.
