HC Seeks Govt Plan to Remove Community Dogs

Institutional rehab sought

- Shruti Kakkar and Jasjeev Gandhiok

NEW DELHI: Concerned over increasing instances of dog bites in the Capital, the Delhi high court has directed the city government to formulate a policy for the "rehabilitation of community dogs at an institutional level" so that they can be gradually removed from the streets.

The court's direction, issued through an order dated May 21 and made public on Monday, came during a hearing on a plea by Pratima Devi, an octogenarian who challenged the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) demolition of a makeshift shelter in Saket where she cared for over 200 dogs.

"This court notes that various instances of dog bites by stray dogs have come forth, reported regularly in newspapers, along with several petitions wherein such incidents have been brought to the court's notice," said a bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna. "A policy decision must be taken by the stakeholders to ensure stray dogs are rehabilitated and phased out from public roads and streets."