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Monitors Implementation Of For Preventing Stray Dog Bite Incidents
Following a series of directives from the regarding the management of stray animals, the has intensified its oversight of state-level efforts to curb dog-bite incidents. In the recent proceedings of , Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal evaluated the progress made by the Government of Chhattisgarh in executing the national (SOP).
Case Background
The legal proceedings originated from a directive issued by the Supreme Court in , which mandated that all States and Union Territories adopt scientific methods for stray dog management. The , through the , formulated an SOP in . The , tasked with enforcing these standards, ordered the State’s Chief Secretary to provide a detailed report on compliance, which led to the current detailing the state's strategic response.
Status of State Compliance
The State government reported that it had allocated approximately ₹33.98 crore to facilitate the . The data presented reflects a significant shift in infrastructure, with the establishment of 34 functional ABC centres across the state. As of , the state reported 30,651 sterilizations, 50,362 anti-rabies vaccinations, and 42,263 de-worming procedures. Furthermore, 199 dog shelters are operational, supplemented by a network of 39 capture vehicles and specially designated staff.
To secure public institutions, which include over 51,000 schools, hospitals, and transit hubs, the state has installed protective fencing and boundary walls in nearly 44,000 facilities. The has pushed forward the ‘Nidan’ helpline (1100) to respond to citizen complaints, successfully addressing nearly 8,900 grievances related to stray animals.
Key Observations
During the review of the compliance report, the Bench highlighted the importance of a sustained legal and administrative approach:
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"The steps reflected in the , including establishment of Animal Birth Control Centres, operationalization of dog shelters, sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination programme... indicate that substantial steps have been initiated by the State Government."
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"Considering that the issue relates to public safety, prevention of dog-bite incidents and scientific management of stray animals throughout the State, the implementation of the aforesaid measures is required to be continuously monitored to ensure effective compliance in all districts."
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"The Chief Secretary... shall ensure that all concerned Departments, Local Bodies, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats, Panchayats and District Administrations strictly comply with the ."
Judicial Decision
The High Court refrained from closing the matter, emphasizing that the nature of the issue requires ongoing oversight to safeguard the public. The Court has directed the Chief Secretary to continue monitoring the situation and to file a fresh status report detailing district-wise developments, specifically covering sterilization metrics and public institution protection.
The matter is scheduled for further monitoring on . This directive ensures that the momentum generated by the initial Supreme Court mandate does not wane, forcing local authorities to maintain accountability in their management of stray populations.
