New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on Monday (November 3) the suo motu case on stray dog management across the country, directing the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories (except West Bengal and Telangana) to remain personally present before it.
Bench to Examine Non-Compliance with Court Orders
A special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria will take up the matter.
The court had earlier expressed serious displeasure over the non-compliance by several states and UTs with its directions regarding the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.
During the previous hearing on October 27, the apex court noted that most states had failed to file compliance affidavits despite clear orders issued on August 22. Only West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had submitted their affidavits.
“Didn’t the officers read newspapers or social media? Haven’t they read… even if they are not served, the affidavit should have been here. All Chief Secretaries remain present here on November 3,” the Justice Nath-led Bench had remarked.
Court Rejects Virtual Appearance Request
On October 31, the Supreme Court rejected Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s request to allow the Chief Secretaries to appear virtually, insisting that they must attend physically before the bench.
The bench underlined that continued disobedience would not be tolerated and that coercive action and costs could be imposed on states and UTs for non-compliance.
Focus on Implementation of ABC Rules
Earlier, the apex court had directed all states and UTs to file detailed affidavits outlining the steps taken to implement the Animal Birth Control Rules, including:
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Sterilisation and vaccination drives for stray dogs,
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Creation of animal shelters and pounds, and
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Public awareness initiatives on humane stray dog management.
Public Safety and Global Image at Stake
The court observed that the issue goes beyond animal control, touching upon public safety and India’s global reputation.
“Continuous incidents are happening, and the image of the country is being shown as down in the eyes of foreign nations. We are also reading news reports,” the bench noted.
Background
The suo motu proceedings were initiated amid rising concerns over stray dog attacks and the failure of civic bodies to effectively implement sterilisation and vaccination measures under the ABC Rules.
The upcoming hearing is expected to set the tone for strict enforcement and greater accountability from state administrations.