Send them to shelters: SC orders removal of stray dogs from hospitals, schools, railway stations, other public spots
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria also directed authorities, including NHAI, to ensure removal of cattle and other stray animals from highways and expressways.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered removal of stray dogs from public places like hospitals, railway stations, bus stands, sports complexes and expressed concern over "alarming rise" in dog bite cases. The apex court directed authorities to relocate them to shelter homes and also ordered that the canines picked up from these areas must not be released to the same spot.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria passed the order while hearing a suo motu case which was initiated on July 28 over a media report which claimed that stray dog bites is leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.
The top court directed authorities, including NHAI, to ensure removal of cattle and other stray animals from highways and expressways and shift them to designated shelters. It has given authorities eight-week time to remove the canines from public places.
"All national highways will have helpline numbers for reporting stray cattle. The chief secretaries of all states will ensure strict compliance with these directives," the three-judge special bench said. The SC also asked authorities to ensure stray dogs do not enter the premises of government and private educational institutions and hospitals, to prevent dog bite incidents.
Earlier, the Supreme Court was hearing the matter related to stray dog cases in Delhi-NCR only. It, however, later expanded the case beyond Delhi-NCR, and directed that all states and UTs be made parties in the matter.