The Supreme Court of India has given instructions to the Delhi government along with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD),and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to capture and relocate stray dogs from all neighborhoods, particularly those considered most vulnerable.
The Apex Court gave directions under the bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, who emphasized that no locality should be left compromised in this effort. The court stated that the authorities may even form a special task force to execute the operation swiftly and efficiently.
The bench further said that this should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking the exercise.
Reflecting the court’s frustration over previous legal challenges that had slowed efforts to tackle the growing crisis,the court was sharply critical of animal rights groups, asking pointedly, “Will these activists be able to bring back those who have already fallen victim to rabies?”
Authorities have been instructed to establish dedicated shelters within eight weeks. These facilities must be equipped with staff to sterilize and immunize the dogs, and include CCTV monitoring to ensure no animal is released back onto the streets.
Additionally, the court directed the creation of a 24/7 helpline within one week to report dog bite incidents. Any reported stray dog must be captured within four hours, and authorities are also required to publish monthly updates on rabies vaccine availability and usage.
These measures stem from pressing public safety concerns, as Delhi continues to grapple with an alarming rate of dog bite incidents and rising rabies risk.