Top court suggests opening private shelter; tags plea with similar pending matter while stressing public safety and legal compliance.
New Delhi: While hearing a plea alleging harassment over the feeding of community dogs in Noida, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the petitioner: “Why don’t you feed them in your own house?”
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta told the petitioner's counsel: "We should leave every lane, every road open for these large hearted people? There is all space for these animals, no space for humans. Why don't you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you."
The plea related to a March 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court.
The petitioner, counsel said, was subjected to harassment and was unable to feed community dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. Rule 20 deals with feeding of community animals and puts onus on resident welfare association or apartment owner association or local body's representative of the local area to make arrangements.
The apex court, however, said, "We give you a suggestion to open a shelter in your own house. Feed every dog in the community in your own house."
Petitioner's counsel claimed compliance with the rules and said the municipality was creating such places in Greater Noida but not in Noida. He said feeding points could be made at a place not frequented by people.
"You go on cycling in the morning?" the bench asked, and said, "try doing it and see what happens".
When counsel said he went on morning walks and sees several dogs, the bench said, "Morning walkers are also at risk. Cycle riders and two-wheelers are at greater risk."
The bench then tagged the plea with a separate pending plea on a similar issue.
In the Allahabad High Court, the petitioner sought directions to the authorities to implement provisions of the Rules with due care and caution keeping in view the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
"While protection of street dogs would be warranted in accordance with the provisions of the applicable statute, at the same time, the authorities will have to bear in mind the concern of common man, such that their movement on streets are not hampered by attacks by these street dogs," the High Court had said.
The High Court said the observation was necessary because there were many instances of attacks by street dogs on people of late, which has resulted in loss of lives and grave inconvenience to pedestrians.
It had disposed of the plea with a direction to the authorities to ensure that concerns highlighted by the court were duly taken care of and appropriate measures were taken to ensure protection of strays besides ensuring interest of people on the streets was not jeopardised.
