SC raps states for ‘sleeping over’ orders on stray dogs

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to permit chief secretaries of states and Union territories to appear through videoconferencing, insisting they must be physically present to explain their noncompliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 and their failure to curb the problem of stray dogs.

- Utkarsh Anand

Rejecting a request by solicitor general Tushar Mehta to allow virtual appearances, a bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the authorities appeared to be "sleeping over" its orders and must now "come and explain" why they had not filed compliance affidavits despite repeated directions.

"No, let them come physically. It is very unfortunate that court is giving time here, the government frames rules, and no action is taken. They are sleeping over the orders of the court. There is no respect for the court's orders. Let the state chief secretaries come physically and explain," the bench said.

The bench stressed that it would not dilute the requirement of personal presence. "They have to physically come and explain why compliance affidavits were not filed," it said.

The refusal came a day after the same bench had turned down a similar plea made by the standing counsel for Bihar, who had sought exemption from personal appearance for the state's chief secretary citing the upcoming assembly polls.

Dismissing the request, the court had observed on Thursday that the chief secretary's duties have no bearing on the conduct of elections. "The Election Commission will handle everything in the state. Don't worry. Let the chief secretary come," the bench had said.