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Supreme Court Addresses Stray Dog Crisis in Delhi-NCR: Mortality Rates, Shelter Shortages, and Official Accountability

Supreme Court Addresses Stray Dog Crisis in Delhi-NCR: Mortality Rates, Shelter Shortages, and Official Accountability

Supreme Court Hears Case on Stray Dogs in Delhi-NCR. Government Presents Mortality Figures, Kapil Sibal Highlights Shelter Shortage, Court Directs Officials to Take Responsibility.

SC on Stray Dogs: The Supreme Court held an important hearing on Thursday regarding the increasing number of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR and related incidents. The case pertained to the issue of shelter homes for dogs and the safety of people due to dogs living on the streets. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, made b remarks and emphasized the need for a swift resolution to the problem.

Solicitor General Presents His Case

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that no one hates animals, but it must be acknowledged that the problem of stray dogs has become serious. He said that this is not just a matter of animal rights, but a matter of the lives and safety of the general public.

The "Those Who Eat Mutton-Chicken are also Animal Lovers" Remark

During the hearing, Tushar Mehta said that there is a "vocal minority" and a "silent majority" in society. The vocal minority are those who call themselves animal lovers on social media, but also post videos of eating mutton and chicken. He argued that this is a double standard and prevents focus on the real problem.

Alarming Figures Presented

The government stated that approximately 3.7 million people in the country are victims of dog bites every year. This means that about 10,000 people are affected daily. Approximately 305 deaths are recorded each year due to rabies, while figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate an even higher number. These figures prove that this is not just a matter of animal rights, but a serious public health issue.

Supreme Court's Order of August 11

It is noteworthy that on August 11, the Supreme Court, taking suo motu cognizance, ordered the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR within eight weeks. The court had said that these dogs should be kept in shelter homes and not left on the streets again. Also, officials were ordered to prepare adequate shelter homes.

Kapil Sibal Raises the Issue of Shelter Home Shortage

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of an NGO, told the court that there are not enough shelter homes available in Delhi-NCR for so many dogs. He said that it is not possible to keep all the dogs in the existing shelters. Therefore, he sought a temporary stay on the order from the Supreme Court so that it could be further considered.

Court's Strong Remarks

The bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria questioned the working style of local authorities. Justice Nath said that the local administration is not fulfilling its responsibility completely. The court also said that those who are coming for intervention in this matter should also understand their responsibility and contribute to the solution.

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