No animal love in public places: Continue restrictions on stray dogs, SC rejects pleas 

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has rejected pleas filed against the order to remove stray dogs from public places. The court ordered that the previous order be strictly implemented. A group of animal lovers had filed a plea in the Supreme Court questioning the procedures issued by the Animal Welfare Board to remove stray dogs.

The case was heard by a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice N V Anjaria. In November last year, this bench had issued directions to the authorities to ensure removal of stray dogs from public places like schools, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations and sports complexes. The court had directed that the dogs be shifted to rehabilitation centres and not be released back to the same place from where they were caught. The bench had also issued directions prohibiting the feeding of dogs on the streets except in designated areas.

Animal lovers and animal protection organizations filed several pleas seeking the withdrawal of these directions. After hearing detailed arguments on these pleas, the bench adjourned the matter to January 29 for its verdict. In the final judgment, the court ordered that all the pleas be dismissed.