The High Court of Meghalaya has taken a significant step in addressing the stray dog menace in public places.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by Kaustav Paul, the Division Bench of Chief Justice I P Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh expressed satisfaction with the steps taken by the government for shifting the zoo in Shillong to a new location about 35 kilometres from the city.
The Court noted that while the birds could not be shifted immediately, they were likely to be relocated to the new location after the construction of a cage-type enclosure. The Shillong Municipal Board was directed to file an action-taken report regarding the construction of a shelter for street dogs.
In response, the Municipal Board filed an affidavit stating that the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of the state government had a shelter for dogs but refused to accommodate the animals captured by the Board, citing that the facility was being used for animal birth control programs.
However, in a positive development, the Municipal Board invited tenders for the construction of a dog shelter home, awarded the contract, and commenced construction, which is expected to be completed within 30 days.
The court directed the Municipal Board to ensure that the construction is completed within the stipulated time and that the street dogs are provided shelter there.
In the meantime, the state government has been directed to verify the authenticity of the Director’s statement that shelter for street dogs cannot be provided at the department’s shelter.
If possible, the state government is required to cooperate with the Board to accommodate the street dogs captured by the Board in the state’s dog shelter until the Board’s shelter becomes operational.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 12, 2025.