New Delhi, 7 November (IANL). The Supreme Court has issued several directions to protect public places from stray dogs and remove stray cattle from the roads. On this, many lawyers of the Supreme Court said on Friday that the order of August 11 has been withdrawn again. Lawyers termed the move as harsh and worrying.
In an exclusive conversation with news agency IANS, Supreme Court lawyer Namita Sharma said, “The order of August 11 has come again. It is almost the same, but slightly changed. Now stray dogs will be removed from all types of institutions, hospitals, schools and bus stands and taken to other places. Also, officers will also be appointed to ensure that they do not come back. This is a strict order, but I still have some hope.”
Advocate Vivek Sharma said that eventually, all the voiceless will be removed. The Goa Court recently clarified that there are only 372 dog bite cases in the government records in the last three years, but the actual figure is 37,387. Today’s order is a review of the old order, without hearing the petitioners. It is not possible for the government to build shelter homes.”
Supreme Court lawyer Sunil Lamba said, “The Supreme Court has ruled that all stray dogs and cattle should be immediately removed from the national highways. This responsibility has been given to the Public Works Department and the Municipal Corporations to remove them within eight weeks. The Court has also directed that the nodal officers will be accountable for implementing this order.”
Let us tell you that the Supreme Court has issued important instructions on Friday in the case of stray dogs. The Court issued several directions to prevent the growing menace of stray dogs in major public places and to remove stray cattle and other animals from highways.
The suo motu case on the management of stray dogs across the country was heard by a bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria. During this, he ordered that proper fencing should be installed at every educational institution, hospital, public sports complex, bus stand and railway station to prevent the entry of stray dogs.
A bench headed by Justice Nath directed local municipal bodies to regularly monitor such premises. Along with this, he directed to shift the animals to designated shelters after mandatory vaccination and sterilization under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.
The top court made it clear that dogs removed from these public places should not be brought back to the same place. Also, the court directed for periodic inspection. The bench also ordered immediate removal of stray cattle and other animals from the highways. The bench said that such animals should be transported to designated shelters without any delay.
The apex court has ordered that the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories should ensure strict compliance. Otherwise, the officials will be held personally responsible. Also, sought a compliance status report within eight weeks for the arrangements adopted to implement the directions.
–IANS
PSK
