Today, the Supreme Court partially modifies its previous order directing capturing and shifting of dogs from streets in Delhi NCR. The Three Judges Bench directed that the stray dogs that will be picked up shall be sterilized, vaccinated and released back to the same area from which they were picked up. However, stray-dogs inflicted with rabies or with aggressive behaviour were not to be released into streets. The Supreme Court took Suo-Moto Writ Petition on the issue of dog-bites reported in Delhi and the areas on the outskirts, leading to rabies and ultimately young infants, children and aged are falling prey to this dreadful disease. Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the State of NCT of Delhi, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to pick up all stray dogs from the localities and public places in Delhi and put them in shelter homes. The Bench comprising of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice N V Anjaria directed, "The dogs that are picked up shall be... Sterilized, vaccinated and released back to the same area from which they were picked up. It is however clarified that this will not apply to dogs inflicted with rabies or suspected to be inflicted with rabies or those who display aggressive behaviour. Such dogs shall be sterilized and immunized but shall under no circumstances will be released back to streets." At the outset, Justice Nath highlighted that similar matters were pending in other High Courts. Thus, the Supreme Court impleaded all States and Union Territories in the Suo-Moto Petition.

Verdictum News Desk