While the state governments and the municipal corporations have turned a blind eye to the sufferings of the stray Indian dogs, the Indian judiciary has yet again come to their rescue.
The Supreme Court of India has lifted its stay order on the Delhi High Court judgement of 2021 that stated that stray dogs have a right to food and citizens have a right to feed Stray dogs.
The Supreme Court had ordered a stay on the high court order of Justice Midha on March 4 2022 citing that the order might lead to an increase in stray dog menace.
A bench comprising Justices Uday Umesh Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat, and Sudhanshu Dhulia noted that their earlier stay had come from a petition filed by Humane Foundation for People and Animals which had challenged the High Court’s order, even though it was not a party to the proceedings of the case.
The bench further stated that since the original parties had resolved their dispute the appeal filed by the NGO had no locus to intervene in subsequent proceedings. Hence they removed the stay.
The Supreme court’s decision to remove the stay has come as a big joy and relief to all the dog feeders and caregivers of the country.
The Delhi High Court today has issued a notice to the Delhi government seeking vaccination of stray dogs and animals against diseases like Canine parvovirus and distemper. The Court said that the issue requires serious consideration because it not only concerns animal life but will also have an impact on the human population.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Datta directed the Delhi government to apply its mind to the issues raised in the petition and come out with a clear and considered stand in the next six weeks.
This is what the bench said “It appears that the stray dogs in the city are a neglected lot. It is necessary to look after the stray dogs not only as a measure of showing respect towards animal life but also because there will be a direct impact on the human population in the city, Parvovirus is a sure shot kill. All pet dogs are regularly vaccinated for this disease and you hardly hear a pet dog suffering from these diseases. The situation is different for stray ones. This requires urgent consideration and it is a serious issue,”
The honourable judges deserve salutation for making such an important and honest note. Most of the stray puppies in India die due to these killer diseases just because of lack of vaccination.
The PIL has been filed by advocate Rahul Mohod who argued that the capital city has no proper mechanism to vaccinate dogs for Canine distemper and Canine parvovirus diseases. Also no infrastructure is available and no helpline is available on which citizens can seek help for the animals.
The govt Veterinary dept does provide rabies vaccination for free. But this too is given only to those lucky dogs who have been taken by the municipality for sterilization and to those whose caregivers have taken them personally to the govt vet for vaccination. There is still no provision of free rabies vaccination drives in colonies by the govt.
The judiciary is doing everything possible to help the stray dogs and their caregivers. But due to lack of political will and apathy of Indian leadership towards stray dogs the mindset of the people of India towards Indian dogs has just not changed.
A resident of Kidwai Nagar Delhi threatened to kill a stray dog. Just watch the foolish man who is walking with an iron spade along with his young daughter to kill the dog.
https://www.facebook.com/100007294758940/videos/1039538793356127/
From the above video it’s quite evident that the daughter too will walk with a stick and thrash a dog when it will come near her. It’s all wrong parenting in homes which often leades to dog bites in children. And unfortunately India is full of such parents. They do not know how to behave with dogs and they teach the same to their children. In schools and colleges too the children learn nothing.
A woman caregiver was abused and physically assaulted by a man for feeding the stray. Kindly go on the link below to read her agony and plight
https://www.facebook.com/groups/882902208804691/permalink/1434608893634017/
A caregiver is worried for the life of a puppy. According to her the puppy has bitten a child and now the child’s parents want to kill the puppy. They have declared the puppy mad (rabid). But the caregiver says that the child throws stones at the puppy therefore it bit the child.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/177617855632417/permalink/5231170030277149/
This is nothing new in India. If a dog bites it is instantly declared rabid and it is then beaten to death.
It is the negative mindset and faulty behaviour of people towards Indian stray dogs which is the main problem in India. Unfortunately neither the govt / state govt nor the animal departments are doing anything about it.
Hiranmay Karlekar