New Three-Judge Bench to Hear Case on Relocation of Stray Dogs
Justice Vikram Nath-led bench to examine removal, sheltering directives amid concerns over conflicting orders
New Delhi: Amid the raging controversy over a two-judge Supreme Court bench ordering the removal of stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets, the apex court on Wednesday shifted the hearing in the suo motu case to a new three-judge bench, which will take up the matter on Thursday.
The move came just hours after Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai assured that he would look into the matter when a plea for urgent hearing was mentioned before his bench.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria will now hear the case.
The two-judge bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan had, on Monday, ordered the permanent relocation of stray dogs to shelter homes in Delhi and the NCR cities of Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram.
On July 28, the two-judge bench took suo motu cognisance of the issue following a news report on dog bites in the national capital.
Earlier in the day, when a plea relating to stray dogs was mentioned for urgent hearing, CJI Gavai said, “I will look into the matter.”
The plea by the Conference for Human Rights (India) was mentioned before a bench of CJI Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran by a lawyer. The CJI, however, pointed out that another bench had already passed an order in relation to stray dogs.
On Monday, the two-judge bench had noted that instances of dog bites had created an “extremely grim” situation and ordered the permanent relocation of all strays in Delhi-NCR “at the earliest.”
On Wednesday, the lawyer referred to a May 2024 order passed by a bench led by Justice J.K. Maheshwari, which relegated petitions relating to the stray dog issue to their respective high courts. The CJI then reiterated that he would look into the matter.
The plea by the Conference for Human Rights (India) claims that the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001, which mandate regular sterilisation and immunisation programmes for stray dogs to control their growing population, are not being complied with.
In its August 11 ruling, the apex court also stated that dog shelters must be augmented over time and directed Delhi authorities to initially create shelters for around 5,000 canines within six to eight weeks.
The bench further warned of strict action against any individual or entity obstructing the relocation drive, adding that such interference could prompt the court to initiate contempt proceedings.