Now Reading: Bombay HC orders Maharashtra to aggressively sterilise stray dogs
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Bombay HC orders Maharashtra to aggressively sterilise stray dogs
The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to aggressively implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules of 2023 to tackle the stray dog menace, calling the rising population the root…
The Story in Brief
The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to aggressively implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules of 2023 to tackle the stray dog menace, calling the rising population the root of the problem. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad was hearing a suo motu PIL on August 14, prompted by the Supreme Court’s directive to all high courts to monitor stray dog issues and dog bite incidents.
The court noted that each unsterilised dog produces four to five puppies, compounding the problem. It appointed senior advocate Mihir Desai as amicus curiae and ordered the state to furnish updated data on rabies cases and medicines at every hearing, which will be held every 15 days. The state’s affidavits were placed on record by Additional Government Pleader Onkar Chandurkar.
The Indian Opinion
The HC’s focus on sterilisation as the primary solution is sensible, but narratives that pit animal rights against public safety are unhelpful. Neither culling nor neglect works. The real test will be whether Maharashtra can execute a sustained, well-funded ABC programme, and report honest numbers on dog bites and rabies. If sterilisation targets are met and bite cases drop, the debate ends. If not, the court’s 15-day review cycle will expose who is failing.
Source: livelaw.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
