Supreme Court Hears Crucial Stray Dogs Case: Live Updates & Key Developments

The Supreme Court is hearing the case concerning stray dogs in India. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria is hearing the matter. The matter gained national attention last year after a Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed Delhi municipal authorities to round up and shelter stray dogs, drawing protests from animal rights groups. That order was later modified by the present three-judge bench. It mandated vaccination and release of sterilized dogs instead of permanent sheltering. During the hearing on December 7, the Court flagged the increasing number of dog bite incidents in the country and called out the municipal authorities and other local bodies for their failure to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules. During the last hearing of the matter on January 13, the Court lamented that while many lawyers argue for the welfare of dogs, the same enthusiasm is not reflected when it comes to arguing for the rights of human beings. The Court also asked a counsel appearing for a dog lover why they were not batting for adoption of orphaned children, but instead limiting themselves to promoting the adoption of stray dogs.