Under No Circumstances Can We Permit Airports Authority Of India To Shoot Dogs: Gujarat HC [Read Order]

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday denied permission to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to relocate or shoot the stray dogs which enter its operational area posing a threat to the safety of passengers and aircraft during takeoff and landing.

The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav asserted, “Under no circumstances, this Court can permit the appellant/petitioner authority to shoot dogs…”

The court was hearing an appeal filed by AAI, challenging an order passed by a Single Judge rejecting them permission to shoot stray dogs found in the airport’s operational area.

AAI had relied on provisions of Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, particularly, section 66(42) of the Act which requires the Municipal Corporation to perform certain functions to ensure public safety, health and convenience. It had reiterated that the menace of stray dogs in the operational areas of airports may hamper smooth operation of the flights and endanger safety of the public at large.

It had further cited the judgment in Airports Authority of India v. Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay, wherein the Bombay High Court had allowed it to kill stray dogs in “emergent circumstances”. 

The Gujarat High Court, however, opined that AAI should hold discussions with the civic body to handle the situation, observing, “So far as displacement, removal or relocation of stray dogs in the operational area of airport is concerned, the petitioner authority can pursue the respondent Corporation and by entering into discussion and deliberation, such issue can be resolved.”

The petition was, therefore, dismissed.

Read the Petition Here