The Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the order to send stray dogs to shelter homes. The government raised security concerns, while dog lovers protested. The verdict has been reserved.
Delhi: The debate has intensified in Delhi-NCR against the Supreme Court's order to send stray dogs to shelter homes. A special bench of three judges of the Supreme Court heard the matter on Thursday and has currently reserved its decision.
Delhi Government's Argument: Security is Paramount
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, stated that serious incidents are occurring across the country due to stray dog attacks. Cases of child fatalities are emerging, and despite sterilization, there has been no reduction in the number of dog bite incidents. He stated that no one hates animals, but the safety of citizens cannot be ignored.
Tushar Mehta clarified that the government is not in favor of killing dogs but is rather seeking to keep them separate from human settlements. He said that the problem will not be solved through regulations alone, and judicial intervention is necessary for this.
Comment on 'Vocal Minority'
In his argument, the Solicitor General also said that there are two sides to this debate. One is the majority, which is directly expressing its concerns, and the other is the minority, which identifies itself as animal lovers. He sarcastically commented that this 'vocal minority' are the same people who eat chicken but now call themselves animal lovers.
Dog Lovers' Objection: Risk of Violence in Shelter Homes
Meanwhile, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, informed the court that according to the Supreme Court's directive, dogs will not be released after sterilization. In such a situation, the question arises as to where they will reside. Sibal argued that keeping a large number of dogs together in shelter homes could be dangerous because there is an increased possibility of fights between them and it also poses a risk to humans.
'Stay Imposition for the Time Being'
Sibal urged the court to put a stay on the decision to remove dogs from the streets for the time being and to give the petitioners time to respond. He also said that the Supreme Court's order was uploaded on Thursday evening, but the administration had already started picking up dogs before that. On this, the court questioned how this action was started before the order was implemented.
Question on the Capacity of Shelter Homes
The petitioners argue that the shelter homes are already full. If new dogs are kept here, not only will their well-being be affected, but violent incidents may also occur in these places. Also, it is against the rules not to release the dogs after sterilization.
