PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday added several government departments as respondents in its suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the stray dog issue and directed them to file affidavits by August 7.
A Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Hiten Venegavkar included the Secretaries of the Education, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Transport, and Sports and Youth Affairs departments as respondents. The court also directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to submit its response.
The Bench took on record the compliance affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary, following the Supreme Court’s directions to all States and Union Territories to submit reports on the functioning of Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres by August 7. The High Court had initiated the suo motu proceedings after the Supreme Court, on May 19, directed all High Courts to monitor the implementation of the ABC programme to address the stray dog issue.
The case has been posted for further hearing on August 18. The Supreme Court had stressed the need to balance animal welfare with public safety, saying citizens have the right to move freely without fear of stray dog attacks.
It directed States to strengthen ABC infrastructure, ensure the availability of anti-rabies vaccines and establish at least one fully functional ABC centre in every district. It also permitted action, as per law, against rabid, incurably ill and exceptionally dangerous dogs.
The apex court warned that failure to comply with its directions could invite contempt proceedings and disciplinary action against officials.
