The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to commence sterlisation of stray dogs in four more wards and prepare a roadmap for the process of further sterilisation.
The Bench of Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Aditi Choudhary passed the directions while hearing the suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) case on the issue of management of stray dogs.
"We just want to create ripples. We just want to sensitise the public of Delhi. Once this process starts and the residents of Delhi come to know, it might take movement. People will themselves get the dogs to the centre. Once the people know they (dogs) are not being caught and not being harmed, they (people) will themselves help you," the Court stated.
The Court today also questioned the slow progress of sterilisation measures. Addressing MCD's Standing Counsel Manu Chaturvedi, the Court said,
"One ward is not over in two months? When will you do 250 wards? With this speed it has to be scaled up. Come up with suggestions how to increase or speed up the process."
Amicus Curiae Gauri Maulekhi told the Court that there are 14 Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres. She said that 2 or 3 more centres can be added to speed up the sterilsation process.
In its order, the Court recorded that the officers of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and MCD have assured that sterilisation will be speeded up and sterilisation camps shall be held in the 4 more wards.
It also directed MCD to prepare a roadmap of the process of sterilisation and place it on record for the approval of the Court.
Amicus Maulekhi also placed on record a roadmap for the implementation of a pilot sterilisation camp. MCD sought 4 weeks to give its comments and suggestions on the report.
"On the basis of the suggestion given by amicus, we direct MCD to prepare a roadmap and place it on record for approval fof the court," the Court directed.
It added,
"If roadmap is prepared, we can circulate it, upload it on the website. So then it can become part of the record. We will simply refer to the roadmap. Circulate is so that people know that this is the roadmap .... Then if you have to catch stray dogs, you will have to go according to it."
Maulekhi further informed that on her persuasion, Lucknow's Municipal Corporation has agreed to come to Delhi to conduct training for veterinarians and dog catchers without any cost to the municipal authorities. On the basis of this submission, the Court directed the NDMC and MCD to coordinate with Lucknow's Municipal Corporation for holding such training.
Today's hearing also saw a petitioner raise concerns about the management of monkeys in Delhi.
"Let us first deal with the dogs menace. Why with this case? Tomorrow somebody will come with rat menace, somebody will come with cat menace, there are so many menaces," the Court stated.
The Court will hear the stray dogs matter next on November 3.
The Court had earlier sought a reply from the Central government, the Delhi government, and the MCD regarding steps taken towards birth control and vaccination of stray dogs. It had directed MCD and NDMC to hold a camp in every ward in the national capital for vaccination and sterilisation of stray dogs.
The issue of stray dog management gained national attention last year after the Supreme Court directed Delhi municipal authorities to round up and shift stray dogs to shelters.
The top court also directed the State and municipal authorities to create dog shelters with sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise the dogs.
The directive to shift stray dogs triggered widespread protests by animal rights groups and was later modified. The modified directions shifted the focus to vaccination, sterilisation and release of dogs in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules.
The Supreme Court eventually issued a host of directives on these lines, and asked High Courts to register a suo motu case to monitor their implementation.
[Read live reporting]