‘Will look into it’: CJI BR Gavai considers relook of SC directive on removing stray dogs from Delhi-NCR
CJI BR Gavai said he would review a recent Supreme Court directive ordering the relocation of stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR to shelters, following concerns raised by a lawyer.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Wednesday assured he would look into the recent Supreme Court directive to remove stray dogs from the streets of Delhi and relocate them to shelters.
Also Read: SC on stray dogs: What the order says, how big is the menace, and other points, explained
The issue was brought to his attention by a lawyer, who cited an earlier Supreme Court judgment prohibiting the indiscriminate killing of dogs. That ruling, the lawyer said, stressed the need for compassion towards all living beings.
The lawyer raised concerns over the SC order dated 11 August directing the removal of all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi within six to eight weeks.
"This is with regard to community dogs issue...There is an earlier judgment of this court which says there cannot be indiscriminate killing of canines of which Justice Karol was a part of. It says compassion for all living beings has to be there," the lawyer said.
"But the other judge bench has already passed orders. I will look into this," CJI Gavai said, as reported by LiveLaw.
On Monday, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan ordered that all localities should be made free of stray dogs, with no compromise. The order said no captured animal will be released back on the streets.
The SC also warned of contempt proceedings against any individual or organisation obstructing the authorities from carrying out the capture drive.
The bench directed the states and municipal authorities to create dog shelters with sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise them.
"NCT Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, MCD, and NMDC shall start picking up stray dogs from all localities, particularly from more vulnerable localities. It is for the authorities to look into, 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," said the bench.
It also directed that authorities in Delhi-NCR set up a helpline so all dog bite complaints can be registered, with the offending animal picked up within four hours of a complaint. It also ordered all authorities to maintain a record of daily stray dogs captured and detained. The bench stated that CCTV monitoring will ensure compliance, and no dog should be released back into the street or public spaces.
(With inputs from agencies)