SC To Consider The Appeal Against Culling Of Stray Dogs In Kerala

Petition says Kerala’s move violates an earlier order of the Supreme Court!

In a recent hearing, the Supreme Court of India has agreed to consider the plea against mass culling of stray dogs in Kerala. The appeal is made by advocate Anupam Tripathi, and was presented in front of the justice bench led by Dipak Misra. According to the plea, the culling of stray dogs was banned in the state as per the orders of the Supreme Court. The apex court ordered for sterilization of stray dogs in Kerala instead of culling. However, recently Kerala govt. issued a verdict to kill violent stray dogs which is in direct contradiction with the apex court’s decision.

Civil rights advocate Prashant Bhushan and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan focused on the incidents where stray dogs were being killed. In the previous verdict by the Supreme court, State authorities were directed to immediately take steps to vaccinate or sterilize stray dogs under the supervision of the Animal Welfare Board of India to control their population.

See Also : Kerala Takes Steps To Control Stray Dog Menace

No steps taken yet

The justice bench acknowledged the arguments made by senior advocate Dushyant Dave and advocate V.K. Biju that the safety of human beings was jeopardized, yet the authorities showed no inclination to combat the menace due to lack of funds or apathy.

“We direct that dogs be sterilized or vaccinated; the procedure shall be carried out in accordance with the law and no organization shall create any kind of obstacle or impediment in the same. It shall be the obligation of the Board to oversee that this is being carried out and no obstructions are created from any quarter,” the Supreme Court had observed.

The Supreme Court has asked the Kerala government whether measures could be taken to collect stray dogs in one place and sterilize them as per the law.

Source: The Hindu