The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Registrar General to make a formal application before the Supreme Court and seek appropriate directions with regard to the retention of the public interest litigation on menace of stray dogs. It was brought to the Court’s notice that several street dogs are biter and very vicious.

The High Court had earlier directed that the stray dogs be taken hold of by the public authorities, inoculated, vaccinated, medically attended to and then kept in shelters for observation before setting them free.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh ordered, “In those circumstances, we direct the Registrar General of this Court to make a formal application before the Supreme Court on the basis of this order and seek appropriate directions with regard to retention of this public interest litigation in this Court. We strongly recommend that a public interest litigation of this character and nature be retained in this Court because of its peculiar and distinctive feature.”

Advocate K. Decruse represented the Petitioner, while Advocate General A. Kumar represented the Respondent.

The Advocate General had brought to the Court’s notice a judgment of the Supreme Court in City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price (2025 ) whereby it was ordered that such petitions be transferred to the Apex Court.

The Bench pointed out that in Meghalaya, there was a peculiar distinctiveness in the menace posed by stray dogs. The Court was informed that in roads, streets and other public places, the dogs attack persons suddenly and at times cause grave injury. Referring to its earlier direction of vaccinating the dogs and keeping them in shelters for observation before setting them free, the Bench mentioned, “With dogs of this nature, freeing them without satisfaction that they have ceased to be biter dogs, and allowing them to frequent public places would pose grave danger to the public.”

Thus, the Bench recommended the retention of the public interest litigation before the High Court because of its peculiarity and distinctiveness. “List this public interest litigation on 15th October, 2025 to receive a report from the Registrar General”, the order read.

Cause Title: Kaustav Paul v. The State of Meghalaya (Case No.: PIL No. 4 of 2024)

Appearance

Petitioner: Advocates K. Decruse, S. Khyriem, B. Snaitang

Respondent: Advocate General A. Kumar, Government Advocates R. Colney, E.R. Chyne

Click here to read/download Order


Meghalaya High CourtChief Justice I. P. MukerjiJustice W. Diengdoh

Tulip Kanth

Assistant Editor

Tulip Kanth is an Assistant Editor at Verdictum having over 5 years of experience in the field of legal journalism and editing. She extensively covers judgments of the Supreme Court, High Courts as well as Tribunals. She has previously worked with a legal publishing website where she oversaw the work of other editors and has also created updates on notifications of different Government Ministries. She holds an English Honours Degree from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University and has completed her LLB course with specialisation in Corporate Law from Amity University.