On Friday, the Supreme Court flagged growing public safety concerns linked to stray dogs, observing that online platforms are replete with videos showing attacks on children and the elderly, as it continued hearing a batch of matters on managing the stray dog population across India, an issue with direct implications for municipal governance, animal welfare policy, and citizen safety.
The issue resurfaced during arguments by a dog welfare organisation, when counsel sought to rely on selected video material to emphasise animal protection concerns. The Bench, however, shifted the focus to ground realities, noting widespread visual evidence of dog attacks circulating online.
The broader hearing saw sharply divergent positions: animal rights groups highlighted harassment of women dog feeders and called for scientific, humane population control through sterilisation, while other intervenors pointed to administrative failures, unchecked dog aggression, and the need for dog-free zones near schools, hospitals, and public institutions. References were also made to recent incidents in Ladakh, where feral dogs were reported to be attacking wildlife and residents, intensifying the national dimension of the problem.
Responding to the selective reliance on material placed before it, the Bench made a blunt observation, stating, “There are ‘n’ number of videos on YouTube where dogs are attacking children and old people. We don’t want a competition here.” The Court signalled that the issue cannot be examined in fragments or emotional silos and stressed realism in policymaking.
It pushed back against attempts to litigate individual grievances within the larger proceedings, advising parties to seek appropriate remedies before High Courts where necessary. While no fresh directions were issued on the merits at this stage, the Bench continued to engage with stakeholders on balancing public safety with animal welfare within the existing legal framework.
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