Supreme Court Summons State Chiefs Over Stray Dog Directive
The Supreme Court of India has summoned chief secretaries of all states and union territories, except West Bengal and Telangana, to appear in person on November 3 for failing to comply with its orders on controlling stray dog populations. The bench expressed strong displeasure that only three jurisdictions had filed compliance affidavits as directed earlier.
Court’s Directive
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N. V. Anjaria noted that its August 22 order had clearly instructed states and UTs to implement sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023. The court criticised the widespread lack of follow-up and said such neglect undermines both public safety and India’s global image.
Implications And Outlook
The summons puts pressure on state administrations to demonstrate real progress in managing stray dog populations. Measures such as sterilisation, vaccination, and setting up regulated feeding zones will be closely scrutinised. The November hearing is expected to be a decisive test of whether governments have moved from policy declarations to on-ground action. Continued failure could lead to stricter monitoring or direct court intervention.
