PANAJI
Two different estimates of Goa’s stray dog population, recorded within a span of seven months, left the High Court of Bombay at Goa questioning how records could drastically change within six months.
The Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar, while hearing the suo motu writ petition regarding stray dogs, was informed that the earlier figure of stray dogs constituting nine percent of the human population had subsequently been revised to 4.5 percent.
The court noted that the nine percent figure was recorded on November 17, 2022, while the 4.5 percent figure was being cited by the government in July 2023.
Questioning the basis for the differing figures, the Bench asked, “Is there a census? Is there at least a non-finalised one?” It sought clarity on whether any provisional latest census data was available with the authorities.
The court further stressed that actual census data was crucial to understand the distribution of stray dogs across talukas and to determine how the problem could be effectively tackled.
“How are we going to tackle the problem without the data being produced before the court?” The Bench asked the Union government while also seeking to know the omission of the census data from the Centre’s affidavit.
“How has your office filed an affidavit without disclosing the census?” it asked.
During the hearing, the court also referred to a communication dated April 1, 2025, issued by the Director of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying to the Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services about completing a livestock census. This also contained data relating to street dogs.
The court consequently directed the Centre to place before it the livestock census data conducted in Goa in April 2025, including figures relating to stray/street dogs, by September 8.
“The data would be relevant for understanding the taluka-wise distribution of stray dogs, particularly in the context of compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court,” it said.
The Bench made clear that even if the census had not been finalised or the official figures had not yet been placed in the public domain, the data collected during the exercise should be collated and placed before the court. The matter has been posted for September 9.
