New Delhi | Aug, 11 : The Supreme Court has criticized local authorities for their failure to address the issue of stray dogs, reserving its order on petitions that challenge its previous ruling from August 11, which mandated the rounding up of stray animals in the Delhi-NCR region.
The three-judge bench emphasized the need for local authorities to take responsibility, highlighting a disconnect between parliamentary laws and their implementation. Despite the backlash against the August 11 order, which directed the collection of stray dogs into shelters within eight weeks, the Supreme Court did not issue a stay on these directives. The case was previously withdrawn from a two-judge bench by the Chief Justice of India due to public outcry. The court acknowledged the conflicting interests of human safety and animal welfare, indicating a need for careful consideration of urgent orders. The Solicitor General, representing the Delhi government, supported the August 11 ruling, arguing that there is a significant disparity between the vocal opposition from a minority and the silent suffering of the majority affected by stray dogs. He presented alarming statistics, noting that there are approximately 37 lakh dog bites annually, resulting in around 305 deaths each year, predominantly among children under 15. The Solicitor General contended that sterilization of stray dogs does not effectively prevent rabies or attacks, advocating for the separation of strays rather than their elimination to ensure public safety.
