NEW DELHI: The Indian Supreme Court has directed the capital city of New Delhi to swiftly eliminate stray dogs and relocate them to shelters, emphasizing urgent action to prevent rabies and ensure public safety.
According to Indian media reports, the court has instructed the New Delhi administration and the National Capital Region (NCR) authorities to immediately capture stray dogs, sanitize them, and establish permanent shelters. The court emphasized that these measures must be implemented without any compromise, and any individual or organization opposing these steps will face strict legal action, considering the critical importance of rabies prevention.
The apex court mandated relevant agencies to take prompt action, including determining the methods, locations, and procedures for capturing and sheltering the stray dogs. If additional forces are required to carry out these operations, they should be mobilized without delay.In its ruling, the court clarified that the decision was made not for personal benefits but for the public good. It stated, “We cannot leave our children and youth vulnerable to rabies. Our goal is to enable residents, especially children, to move freely and safely without fear of dog attacks.”
The court ordered the New Delhi civic authorities and NCR to establish shelters for stray dogs within eight weeks, employing adequate staffing and CCTV monitoring to ensure that no dog remains unvaccinated or unsterilized.Furthermore, the court mandated that within six weeks, approximately 5,000 stray dogs in the city should be captured. Strong action should be taken against anyone resisting these measures.
This directive follows a previous suo-motu notice issued by the Supreme Court in July, which highlighted the alarming rise in rabies cases and related fatalities in Delhi. The court had expressed serious concern over the increasing number of rabies cases and urged the authorities to implement stringent measures to address the issue.
