Following the rise of dog bite incidents in institutional premises and nearby areas, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered the authorities to shift the stray dogs from schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, railway stations, and bus stands to shelter homes.
The apex court further directed that stray dogs picked up from such institutions shall not be released back to the same place, even after their sterilisation. It noted that permitting the return of the strays would "frustrate the very purpose" of securing such premises and addressing public safety concerns.
It also asked the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to remove cattle and other stray animals from highways and expressways, then relocate them to designated shelters.
Further, all states and union territories have to identify government and private schools, colleges, medical institutions, public transport hubs, and sports facilities within two weeks. Within two months, they will have to ensure that all these areas are secured, with boundary walls to prevent the entry of stray dogs.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria is hearing a suo motu case, which was initiated on July 28 this year, after widespread media coverage reporting stray dog bites leading to rabies, especially in children.
Earlier, on November 3, the Supreme Court said that it would pass interim directions to handle the matter of the "grave menace" of dog bites in institutional premises, where employees feed and encourage stray dogs.
Before this, on October 27, the court strongly deprecated the failure of most state governments to file compliance affidavits despite clear orders issued on August 22. The affidavits were to detail the steps taken for the enforcement of ABC rules, which include sterilisation drives, vaccination programmes, and the establishment of shelter homes and ponds. Notably, only West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have submitted their affidavits.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's request to appear virtually before the court was rejected on October 31. Instead, the Chief Secretaries were directed to be present physically before the bench.
