Top court fiat to clear public spaces nationwide of stray dogs and cattle

Send them to designated shelters after sterilisation, vaccination, says three-judge bench

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi

IN a sweeping directive on Friday, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations, bus stands and other public places, directing that they be relocated to shelters following sterilisation. The court made it clear that stray dogs cannot be released back into the areas from which they are picked up.

A special three-judge bench comprising justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria issued the order while hearing a long-pending case on stray dogs. "Every stray dog shall be forthwith removed from such premises and relocated to a shelter after sterilisation. They shall not be released in the same area," the bench said.