The Telangana High Court has asked the Member Secretary of Telangana State Legal Services Authority to visit existing animal care centres as well as those being set up by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and submit a status report.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. Tukaramji heard a Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) registered following the death of a four-year-old boy after being bitten by four stray dogs in Hyderabad city.
On 23.02.2023, the Court had issued notice and GHMC standing counsel K. Ravinder Reddy filed an affidavit.
The affidavit stated that an ex-gratia of Rs 8 lakh has been paid to the family of the deceased. That apart, GHMC has prepared a revised module for management of street dogs. It is stated that as per mandate of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 GHMC has established animal care centres in different areas of Hyderabad, details of which have been mentioned in paragraph 10 of the affidavit.
That apart, several other steps have been taken like providing for dog catching vehicles and sterilization of dogs etc. GHMC has also taken up construction of two additional animal care centres, said the affidavit.
Without expressing any opinion at this stage, the High Court directed the Member Secretary of Telangana State Legal Services Authority to visit existing GHMC animal care centres and those being set up and submit a status report.
The matter has been listed for June 8, 2023.