Supreme Court expresses anger over states ignoring orders on street dog menace
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed strong displeasure over several states failing to comply with its earlier directions on controlling the street dog menace and ordered all Chief Secretaries of states and Union Territories to personally appear before the court on November 3.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that the lack of compliance with court orders reflects “disrespect towards the judiciary.” The court noted that despite clear instructions issued on October 22, most states had failed to submit compliance affidavits by the October 27 deadline.
“Only West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have submitted compliance reports,” the bench stated. The court warned that the remaining states and union territories must now explain their non-compliance in person.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, requested the court to allow the Chief Secretaries to join the proceedings virtually, citing logistical difficulties. However, Justice Vikram Nath rejected the plea, stressing that personal appearance was mandatory.
“Do the states have no respect for the orders of this court?” Justice Nath remarked sternly. “Let them appear in person and explain why the directions were not complied with. This court’s time is being wasted on matters that should be handled efficiently by state governments and municipal bodies.”
The bench expressed concern that despite repeated warnings, the issue of stray dog attacks continues to endanger public safety in several cities. Justice Nath added that the matter was being unnecessarily prolonged due to the failure of administrative machinery.
“Resolving the street dog problem is the duty of state governments and municipal corporations. It is unfortunate that this court has to spend so much of its valuable time on an issue that should have been effectively managed at the local level,” he said.
The Supreme Court’s order follows multiple reports from across the country of increasing street dog attacks, including incidents involving children and elderly citizens. Animal rights groups and civic authorities have long been at odds over the implementation of sterilization and vaccination programs.
Earlier, the court had directed all states to ensure strict compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules and submit detailed action plans to control the stray dog population. However, the latest hearing revealed that most states had failed to provide updates on their progress.
Legal experts say the court’s decision to summon Chief Secretaries in person marks a strong message to the bureaucracy about accountability. “It’s a clear signal that the Supreme Court will no longer tolerate administrative indifference to public safety,” said advocate Rajiv Pandey.
The upcoming hearing on November 3 is expected to be a key moment in the long-standing legal battle over the management of stray dogs in India. The court is likely to review compliance reports, seek explanations from defaulting states, and issue further directions to ensure enforcement at the ground level.
