Delhi municipality starts picking up stray dogs as per SC order, 100 canines picked since August 12
The Supreme Court ordered the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR within eight weeks, prompting the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) to begin a roundup. Over 100 dogs have been collected since the order.
New Delhi: After the Supreme Court's order that sealed the fate of the canines in the national capital, the Delhi Municipal Corporation has started picking up stray dogs. Since yesterday, 100 dogs have been picked up from Delhi.
More than two dozen teams of the Delhi Municipal Corporation's Veterinary Department are engaged in catching stray dogs. They have been picked up from places like hospitals, courts, educational institutions, and markets. All 20 sterilisation centres in Delhi are being expanded, and they will be converted into shelters.
What did the Supreme Court order?
The Supreme Court has ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR should be picked up and put in dedicated shelters within eight weeks. These shelters have to be established by the authorities concerned, the apex court said. Also, it ordered civil bodies and other agencies to coordinate efforts to establish adequate shelter facilities within the given timeframe, and ensure that the strays are removed from public places.
Last month, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report about incidents of dog bites resulting in rabies. While giving the order, the apex court also said that no stray dog should be released back onto the streets once they are taken to a shelter. The order read, "The State of NCT Delhi, MCD, and NDMC is directed to create dog shelters and report to this Court creation of such infrastructure within 8 weeks. The dog shelters should have sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise. The dog shelter would be monitored by CCTV."
What has CJI Gavai said?
Chief Justice of India BR Gavai has said that he would look into an urgent mention in the ongoing row over stray dogs in the Supreme Court. Notably, a lawyer has mentioned the matter before the CJI. The lawyer took objection to the SC order about stray dogs. The order was passed by a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan. CJI Gavai said, "But the other judge bench has already passed orders. I will look into this."