The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently directed the Indore Municipal Corporation to conduct a "top priority" special drive for removing stray dogs from prominent public places in Indore, particularly the tourist spots like Chhappan Dukan and Sarafa.
A Bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi also directed the corporation to file an action report in this regard before January 13 along with data of sterlization of stray dogs.
"If we find that action report is not satisfactory, we may direct personal appearance of the Commissioner,Municipal Corporation, Indore," the Court warned.
The Court passed the directions on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking removal of livestock i.e. cattle, sheep and goats from public places within city limits to protect its greenery.
The issue of stray dogs was also raised in the petition.
Earlier, the Court had asked the State counsel to apprise it about the action taken by the Indore Municipal Corporation with regard to removal of stray dogs in terms of the order passed by the Supreme Court in November this year.
The counsel for the State on December 19 submitted that certain measures were taken by the Municipal Corporation with regard to cattle issue and also the stray dogs. It was also submitted that Corporation was constantly engaged in removal of stray cattle from the city.
However, the counsel for the intervenors in the PIL submitted that the whole city was facing stray dog menace and that a number of dog biting cases were reported.
Considering the same, the Court directed the Indore Municipal Corporation to comply with the earlier directions as well as the orders passed by the Supreme Court.
"In order to ensure proper compliance of the directions, we direct that Commissioner, Municipal Corporation will hold the meeting of concerned officers of the Corporation and also to prepare an action plain in this regard. The meeting shall be fixed within 10 days from today," the Court directed.
Advocate Gagan Bajad appeared for the petitioner.
Senior Counsel Piyush Mathur with advocate Madhusudan Dwivedi appeared as amicus cuariae.
Government Advocate Bhuwan Gautam appeared for State.
Advocates Kirti Patwardhan and Manish Yadav represented respondent/intervenor.
[Read Order]