New Delhi: In a stinging rebuke, the Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on nearly all states and Union Territories (UTs) for their widespread failure to file compliance reports regarding the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. The top court summoned the Chief Secretaries of the state warning that top bureaucrats will face personal accountability for their inaction in controlling the stray dog menace while safeguarding human and animal welfare.
A three-judge special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria noted that only the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and states of West Bengal and Telangana have filed their compliance affidavits in pursuance to the apex court’s August 22 order.
Expressing deep dissatisfaction in the implementation of Animal Birth Control Rules, with the lack of accountability, a three-judge bench, led by Justice Vikram Nath, noted that the inaction by states and UTs was contributing to continuous incidents of dog attacks, which was “projecting India negatively before the international community.”
The court clarified that the Delhi chief secretary would also have to appear on November 3 and that the report by the MCD would not suffice.
“Let chief secretaries of all states and Union territories remain present before this court on November 3, along with an explanation why no compliance affidavit was filed till date,” the bench, also comprising justices Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria, said.
In its August 22 order, the top court had modified its earlier direction prohibiting the release of vaccinated stray dogs from pounds in Delhi-NCR, calling it “too harsh” and ordered the canines to be released post-sterilisation and de-worming.
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