We don't want any dog to die: Delhi HC directs MCD, NDMC to hold camps for sterilisation/vaccination of stray dogs

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to hold a camp in every ward in the national capital for vaccination and sterilisation of stray dogs.

The Bench of Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta passed the order in a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) case on the issue of stray dog management of stray dogs.

"MCD and NDMC shall organise a camp, one ward each in its respective area for installation of the stray dogs. This shall be taken as a pilot project. Prior publicity of the camp in its areas shall be done. Placard shall be displayed with wide publicity that the stray dogs are not being captured or being sent to dog pounds and they are being brought to camp only for the purpose of vaccination/sterilisation," the Court directed.

It suggested the MCD to start with areas with areas frequented by people.

"Let us go by small area, smaller part, select ward like, near Connaught Place, India Gate. More offices are there. Let us go by that in this ward, all dogs are sterilised," the Bench said.

Meanwhile, one of the judges on the bench said his mother was bitten twice by dogs.

"We are taking care of dog biting. Yes, they are a threat to everyone. Dog has bitten my mother twice. It is a harsh reality. Dogs do bite. Bhagwan Kare kisi ko nahi kaate. Let us not go into this, it is a problem. Everyday you will find dogs biting. I don't want to get into this, kutta kaat ta hai ki nahi kaat ta," Justice Mehta said.

The Court, however, remarked that while it does not want dog bite incidents to occur anywhere, it wants a percentage of dogs to remain for future generations.

"We don't want any dog to die, even they [government] don't want any dog to die...This is not adversarial. From today onwards, we don't want to hear, dog kaat gaya, dog nahi kaata, sabko pata hai kaat-ta hai. I will cry when dogs go, I still say 5 percent population should be left so that the next generation sees the dog," the Bench said.

In response to concerns expressed by a dog feeder, the Court said,

"There are millions of dogs. In all colonies, will allow a person to take their dogs. We just want to hold a camp, one responsible person who can make a list of the dogs."

When a lawyer submitted that the dogs may meet the fate of dinosaurs, the Bench said,

"The German Shepherd will remain."

Meanwhile, the Court also pointed to the dwindling population of birds in Delhi and other parts of the country.

"Where are the sparrows? Poori duniya dog ke peecha padi hai. Where are the sparrows? Where are the crows?"

The Court had earlier sought a reply from the Central government, the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) regarding steps taken towards birth control and vaccination 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 Court also directed the State and municipal authorities to create dog shelters with sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise the dogs.

That order 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.

Later, the Supreme Court issued more directions and asked High Courts to register a suo motu case to monitor their implementation.

Today, the counsel representing the MCD told the High Court that dog population was now being taken care of.

"There are 12 zones in Delhi. We have identified the zones. Total number staff and personnel at the centres is given," advocate Manu Chaturvedi said.

However, the counsel could not provide the exact number of dogs in Delhi. The Court was told that the rough estimate is 8 lakh. On the process followed to sterilise the dogs, Chaturvedi said,

"To control the dog population, it is sterilisation. It will bring down the population. Even if there are rabid dog. We take the dog and put it in observation for 10-15 days on the basis of the symptoms, if the veterinarian says that there is nothing of concern, he is released."

The Court enquired about the population of male and female dogs, and asked whether only female dogs can be sterilised.

"Are male and female dogs equal in number like humans? It is 9:10 in humans. Does it make sense to sterilise both? Make it only female. Or you catch and sterilise whoever you can? One female remains and multiple males. Who bites, more? Female or male?"

The MCD counsel informed the Court about the process followed by the authorities. He also submitted that the pilot project with microchip has been successful.

On the directions passed by the Court, it was assured that camps will be held with wide publicity about the exercise.

"Select one ward from this area and a worst area, according to you. So that we can say as a society that each dog in this ward is sterilised. We want an affidavit on this. There will be a camp. Let it begin from one ward so that the message goes that they are being sent to dog pound. As a society I am also conscious that these dogs after fifteen years are not extinct. While sitting on the dias, I have to strike a balance," the Court said.

The Court has appointed Gauri Maulekhi as the amicus curiae. Maulekhi is a member of State Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committees in several states and an expert in animal birth control.

The next date of hearing is September 1.