Publicise policy on feeding stray dogs: Karnataka High Court to State

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the Karnataka government to undertake extensive measures to publicize guidelines on feeding street animals [Ramesh Naik L v State of Karnataka]. .A Division Bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit said the guidelines would be meaningless unless they are effectively publicized. ."It cannot be much disputed that unless steps are taken to give wide publicity to these Guidelines, their effective implementation may not happen and that would defeat the very purpose for which the Government has come out with the same," the Court said..The Court suggested various modes of publicizing the same including uploading it on official websites, distributing pamphlets and placards in busy areas, and exploring opportunities for screening in theaters and television networks..The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition that sought appropriate action to regulate the life and movement of street dogs and to implement the Animal Welfare Board of India’s (AWBI) Guidelines on Pet and Street/Stray Dogs which were framed in 2015. The Court had previously sought a response from the State government on October 5 regarding the guidelines on feeding street dogs.In response, the State government submitted an affidavit attaching guidelines formulated by the Karnataka Animal Welfare Board in December 2022. Among other things, these guidelines address the issue of feeding stray dogs. The Court expressed concerns about the impact of feeding stray dogs in public places. It quoted one of the guidelines and stated that residents of an area are responsible for ensuring the sterilization and regular vaccination of street dogs by the local authority.The guidelines also outlined a dispute resolution process, allowing individuals with grievances about people feeding dogs to engage in dialogue through the Animal Welfare Committee. If issues persist, the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) may escalate the matter to the District Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) which will ensure a prompt resolution, the Court clarified. In light of the importance of public awareness, the Court concluded that unless these guidelines receive wide publicity, their purpose would be defeated. Consequently, the Court directed the government to undertake measures for the extensive publicization of the guidelines.