Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea For Ensuring Stray Dogs' Sterilization And Immunization In Delhi

The Supreme Court today issued notice on a petition filed by an NGO seeking to ensure immunization and sterilization of stray dogs in Delhi.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan passed the order after hearing counsel for the petitioner NGO-Conference for Human Rights, who argued that no sterilization/immunization exercise had been carried out by the authorities.

Initially, the petitioner NGO and Triveni Apartments Welfare Association had approached the Delhi High Court with two public interest litigations for ensuring sterilization of stray dogs. It was their case that the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001 made under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960 had not been complied with.

As per the said Rules, authorities are duty bound to take up regular sterilization and immunization programmes of stray dogs, in order to curtail their growing population.

The petitioners submitted that due to the non-performance of statutory duties, there was a rapid increase in stray dog population in Delhi resulting in an increase of dog bites cases.

The High Court however disposed of the pleas, being satisfied with the affidavits filed by Delhi Government's Animal Husbandry Unit and South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which stated that the authorities were regularly conducting the sterilization and immunization of stray dogs and performing their statutory duties.

Be that as it may, Delhi government and concerned civic authorities were directed to continue the efforts in the following terms: "The respondents are directed to ensure that they continue with their efforts and drive for sterilization and immunization of stray dogs, as the same is an important public function and is required to be performed in all its earnestness”.

Aggrieved by the High Court order, the petitioner NGO approached the Supreme Court.

Today, counsel for the petitioner submitted, "there is a problem of dog bites...we have put in RTIs, the result was that they have practically not done any sterilization...our prayer was that they should display on their website so that people know that they are doing sterilization".

Interjecting the counsel, Justice Viswanathan pointed out that the petitioner was also praying for caging of the stray dogs. In response, the counsel clarified that the only prayer is and was that there should be sterilization and data should be displayed on the relevant website.

Ultimately, notice was issued on the petitioner's plea and response sought from Union of India.

Case Title: CONFERENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (INDIA) (REGD.) VS. UNION OF INDIA, DIARY NO. - 9352/2024