Jammu and Kashmir Schools Implement Supreme Court Directive on Stray Dog Monitoring and Management

The Supreme Court has mandated the appointment of nodal officers to oversee dog sterilization programs.

Srinagar:

Educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir have received directives requiring teachers in both government and private schools to actively monitor and report stray dog populations in their vicinity, effectively becoming part of the region's stray dog management initiative.

NDTV has obtained official orders issued by Chief Education Officers (CEOs) throughout the Union Territory. These directives instruct school administrators to designate Nodal Officers responsible for monitoring and coordinating responses regarding stray dogs present within and around school premises.

When questioned about these measures, J&K Education Minister Sakina Itoo informed NDTV that the directives likely stem from Supreme Court guidelines on stray dog management.

"The Supreme Court has issued specific directions regarding stray dog management, particularly their removal from educational institutions and healthcare facilities. I believe these orders have been implemented to ensure compliance with the Court's directive," Ms. Itoo explained.

In the previous month, the Supreme Court instructed all states and union territories to implement comprehensive stray dog management protocols. These protocols include removing dogs from all educational facilities, hospitals, railway stations, and bus terminals, and relocating them to designated shelters. Additionally, the Court mandated the appointment of nodal officers to ensure proper sterilization and vaccination of dogs prior to relocation.

Currently, there is no available information regarding whether municipal authorities or the animal husbandry department have issued implementation orders to enforce the Court's directive on removing stray dogs from these institutions.

An official order from the Chief Education Officer of Poonch instructs all heads of government and private educational institutions to nominate nodal officers within their respective schools for "timely monitoring and coordination regarding issues related to stray dogs in and around the premises."

According to the directive, the Nodal Officer will be responsible for:

Documenting and reporting stray dog sightings and related incidents.

Liaising with Municipal/Animal Husbandry/Local Bodies for appropriate action.

The order explicitly cautions that "any lapse in compliance shall be viewed seriously."

A comparable directive was issued by the CEO of Kupwara, which additionally requires schools to install "beware of dogs" signage both within and outside school grounds. Both Chief Education Officers have instructed schools to implement these measures immediately.

Schools across Kashmir were instructed to submit compliance reports regarding stray dog management on Wednesday, just one day before the commencement of winter vacation closures for all educational institutions.