Supreme Court Asserts Authority in Stray Dogs Case

The Supreme Court has insisted that chief secretaries from states and Union Territories appear physically in court to address non-compliance with prior orders regarding stray dog issues. This decision underscores the court's frustration over negligence by states in implementing Animal Birth Control rules.

The Supreme Court, on Friday, decisively dismissed requests to exempt chief secretaries from physically attending court on November 3 in the ongoing stray dogs case. This comes amidst escalating frustration over the lack of compliance with an earlier court order issued on August 22.

Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta reprimanded officials for their failure to submit compliance affidavits concerning Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. Except for West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, other states and Union Territories failed to meet the October 27 deadline.

The apex court emphasized the urgency of addressing the stray dog menace, highlighting the continuous international embarrassment for India. Earlier initiated on July 28 after a media report on rabies cases, the case has now expanded nationwide, demanding accountability from all state and UT authorities.

(With inputs from agencies.)