Ensure That IIT Madras Campus Doesn't Become A Dumping Ground For Abandoned Dogs: Madras High Court To State Govt

The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P. D. Audikesavalu was hearing the plea filed by an NGO named People for Cattle in India complaining of the plight of the dogs that abound in the IIT Madras campus.

Submissions made before the Court

The Court was apprised of the inspections made by various agencies, including the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Greater Chennai Corporation and the Animal Husbandry Department of the State.

The petitioner averred that the report furnished by the Joint Committee, including members of the State Animal Husbandry Department, Animal Welfare Board and Corporation had suggested that the dogs have not cared for and the enclosures provided have been inadequate.

On the other hand, the Animal Welfare Board filed its papers including a report pursuant to continual visits which suggested that IIT had done its best for the dogs within its campus.

The petitioner pointed out that 49 dogs have recently died and had referred to one of the recommendations following the Joint Committee's inspection, which has suggested post-mortems to be conducted.

The IIT Madras authorities submitted before the Court that every dog on its campus is micro-chipped and three separate enclosures have been provided since some of the dogs are aggressive and impede movement within the campus and sometimes tend to threaten students.

Noting such submissions, the Court noted thus:

"At the end of the day, IIT campus is not a dog park, nor a zoo, nor is it the IIT's core business to devote its resources or energy towards maintaining dogs, including pets that residents in the city may abandon at the IIT gates."

Further, the Court also observed that it is necessary that the number of dogs at the IIT campus is reduced from its present level of about 100, as the IIT claims or about 120 as the State agencies suggest.

"There could be a few dogs and, given the size of the campus and dogs being traditionally present, the number may be reduced closer to 50, since there are deer and black bucks also on the campus," the Court added.

Lastly, the Court directed that the petitioner, along with representatives of the State authorities, including the Corporation, Animal Husbandry Department and the Animal Welfare Board of India, should decide on a course of action that may be followed both to ensure that IIT is rid of the menace of too many dogs on its campus and the ultimate treatment of the dogs taken from the campus, whether by way of adoption or placement at some centers run by NGOs or the like.

The Court also said that new arrivals at the IIT maybe handed over to the Corporation and the Corporation should deal with such dogs in an ethical and humane manner.

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