New Delhi, Aug 11 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to immediately begin removing stray dogs from all localities in the national capital, stressing that there should be “no compromise” in making every locality free of stray dogs.
A Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan instructed the authorities to prioritise vulnerable localities and take urgent measures.
“NCT Delhi, MCD, NDMC shall at the earliest start picking up stray dogs from all localities, more particularly vulnerable localities. How to do it is for the authorities to decide and if they have to create a force, do it at the earliest. However, 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,” the Bench said.
The Court issued a stern warning against any interference, stating that it would initiate strict action, including contempt proceedings, against individuals or organisations obstructing the exercise.
“If any individual or organisation comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against such resistance,” the Bench added.
In a pointed remark aimed at animal rights activists the Court questioned, “All these animal activists will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies?”
The Bench further directed the authorities to establish dog shelters within eight weeks, equipped with adequate staff for sterilisation and immunisation, and to ensure CCTV monitoring.
“The State of NCT Delhi, MCD and NDMC are directed to create dog shelters and report to this Court the creation of such infrastructure within eight weeks,” the order stated.
Emphasising that the directive was issued purely in public interest, the Court said stray dogs should be relocated to far-off areas without delay.
“We are not doing this for us; it is for the public interest. No sentiments of any nature should be involved. Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to far-off places,” the Bench remarked.
