Chief Secretaries from most Indian states face the Supreme Court’s stern gaze for their inaction on the critical stray dog issue. A bench led by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta has ordered their personal appearance on November 3rd, citing a failure to submit compliance reports on animal birth control measures. The court lamented that the ongoing incidents are projecting a negative image of India globally.
Expressing strong dissatisfaction, the justices noted that only West Bengal, Delhi, and Telangana have fulfilled their reporting obligations regarding the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The bench suggested that awareness of the escalating problem, evident in media reports and social media, should have prompted proactive measures from state officials, even without explicit summons.
“Didn’t the officers read newspapers or social media? Haven’t they read… even if they are not served they should have been here,” the court remarked, indicating a potential auditorium hearing if compliance is not met. The court warned of imposing costs or coercive actions against any Chief Secretary failing to attend.
Beyond the animal welfare aspect, the court acknowledged the parallel concern of human safety, questioning “What about the cruelty towards humans?” Furthermore, the bench addressed the growing complexity of the case, with numerous organizations and RWAs seeking to join, asking for reasonable and practical suggestions rather than an unmanageable number of parties.