New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday summoned the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, except West Bengal and Telangana, to appear on November 3 regarding the management of stray dogs. The apex court questioned why these states and UTs have not filed affidavits in compliance with its August 22 order.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria noted that only the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, along with West Bengal and Telangana, had submitted affidavits. The bench criticised other states and Union Territories for failing to comply, saying that the requirements were clearly mentioned in the August order.
The hearing follows the Supreme Court taking suo motu cognisance of issues related to stray dogs. On August 22, the court had expanded the scope of the case beyond Delhi-NCR, directing all states and UTs to be parties in the matter.
The same order also amended an earlier directive that prohibited the release of vaccinated stray dogs outside shelter homes in Delhi-NCR, with the court describing its previous orders as “very stringent.”
