Stray dog menace: Jammu & Kashmir High Court seeks report on implementation of Animal Birth Control Rules

The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh recently called for a detailed status report on the implementation of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 in the two union territories, while dealing with a case concerning the stray dog menace [Court on its own motion V/s Govt of J&K]..In its February 7 order, a Division Bench of Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice MA Chowdhary also said that the matter will be monitored frequently by by the Court since it involves a continuous cause of concern."Counsel appearing for UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh shall file detailed updated reports as regards implementation of the various requirements mentioned in notification dated 10-03-2023 whereby the department of animal husbandry and dairying notified Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023," the Court's order stated..The Court was dealing with two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) concerning the stray dog menace in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. While one petition was initiated suo motu by the High Court [Court on its Own Motion (Stray Dog Menace in Ladakh)], the second petition was filed by an NGO.On February 7, the counsel representing a petitioner-NGO, Save Animal Value Environment (SAVE), submitted that the authorities have not taken appropriate steps to implement the animal birth control rules. The State-level monitoring committee which is required to sit regularly is not properly monitoring the implementation of the rules though the same were notified in March, 2023, he said..He argued that the lack of general awareness regarding dog bite incidents needs to be looked into and that preventive measures would be required to spread awareness on the issue of dog bites..He also argued that anti-rabies vaccines or antidotes for dog bites are not readily available. He added that the authorities are differentiating bites by pet dogs and stray dogs, which has prevented the implementation effective measures to tackle stray dog bites. .He asserted that the proper implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Marketing Rules, 2017 would also be required to curb instances of stray dog bites. .The matter will be heard next on February 21, 2024..Advocates SS Ahmed, and Devinder Kaur Madaan represented the NGO, SAVE.Advocates Malaya Ashira, SF Qadri, and Moomin Khan represented the government authorities..[Read Order]