Top court stops purge of multitude Delhi stray dogs

INDIAS Supreme Court has issued an order preventing the roundup and confinement of the multitude of stray dogs that wander Delhi.

- MAHAM JAVAID

Following protests by dog lovers, the court directed local authorities to sterilise, immunise and return the dogs that had been rounded up so far - across India’s capital, New Delhi - to the neighbourhoods from which they were collected.

The city is estimated to have up to a million stray dogs.

“The mood after the new order is buoyant,” said Meghna Bal, a resident of Delhi who joined protests to stop the mass roundup. “It's great that the dogs were released and returned to their homes”

The court stipulated that “aggressive dogs” should remain in shelters, without further specifics. The court also said that feeding points should be set for street dogs.