GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 19, permitted authorities to euthanise rabid and aggressive stray dogs in accordance with existing laws and animal welfare rules.
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The verdict was given while the apex court dismissed a batch of petitions seeking changes to its earlier order concerning the relocation and management of stray dogs in public spaces.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria observed that the increasing presence of stray dogs in public areas had become “alarming” and posed a serious threat to human safety.
The court stated that authorities may take “legally permissible measures”, including euthanasia, in cases involving dogs that are incurably ill, infected with rabies, or found to be violent and dangerous to people.
Expressing concern over the rising number of dog bite incidents across the country, especially involving children and elderly citizens, the bench said such attacks could not be ignored. The court also noted that several state governments had failed to properly implement previous directives issued by the apex court.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed civic bodies and local authorities to remove stray dogs from sensitive public locations such as hospitals, parks, railway stations and similar areas, and relocate them to designated shelters.
It had also ruled that sterilised stray dogs should not be released back into the same public spaces from where they were picked up. Additionally, the court prohibited the feeding of stray dogs in public places except in specially designated feeding zones.