Supreme Court Takes Up Petition on Stray Dog Sterilization and Immunization in Delhi

Case Title: Conference for Human Rights (India) (Regd.) vs. Union of India, Diary No. – 9352/2024

Summary:

• Supreme Court issues notice on petition for stray dog sterilization in Delhi.
• Petitioner NGO argues authorities failed to perform required duties, leading to a rise in dog bites.
• High Court directed authorities to continue sterilization efforts; Supreme Court seeks a response from Union of India.

Today, the Supreme Court issued a notice regarding a petition filed by the NGO Conference for Human Rights.

This petition aims to ensure that stray dogs in Delhi are properly sterilized and immunized.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan heard the case and passed the order. The counsel for the NGO argued that the authorities had failed to carry out any sterilization or immunization programs for stray dogs.

Previously, the NGO and the Triveni Apartments Welfare Association had approached the Delhi High Court with public interest litigations.

They sought to enforce the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001, which were established under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

These rules require authorities to regularly conduct sterilization and immunization programs for stray dogs to control their population.

The petitioners argued that the authorities’ failure to perform their statutory duties led to a rapid increase in the stray dog population and a rise in dog bite cases in Delhi.

The Delhi High Court had dismissed these pleas, satisfied with affidavits from the Delhi Government’s Animal Husbandry Unit and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

These affidavits stated that the authorities were regularly conducting sterilization and immunization of stray dogs and fulfilling their statutory duties.

Despite this, the High Court directed the Delhi government and civic authorities to continue their efforts in sterilizing and immunizing stray dogs, emphasizing the importance of this public function.

Unsatisfied with the High Court’s decision, the petitioner NGO approached the Supreme Court.

The counsel for the petitioner highlighted the issue of dog bites and claimed that Right to Information (RTI) responses revealed a lack of sterilization efforts.

They requested that the authorities display their sterilization data on their website for public awareness.

Justice Viswanathan noted that the petitioner had initially sought the caging of stray dogs. However, the counsel clarified that their primary request was for sterilization and public display of relevant data.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice on the petitioner’s plea and requested a response from the Union of India.