Supreme Court Mandates Chief Secretaries' Presence for Nationwide Stray Dog Management Hearing

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the suo moto case regarding nationwide stray dog management on Monday, November 3. Chief Secretaries from all states and Union Territories, with the exception of West Bengal and Telangana, have been mandated to be personally present during the proceedings.

A specialized bench consisting of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria will preside over the case. The court previously expressed dissatisfaction with multiple states and UTs for failing to comply with directives on implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.

During the October 27 hearing, the court strongly criticized most state governments for not submitting compliance affidavits despite explicit orders issued on August 22. The bench noted that only West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had fulfilled their obligation to file the required documentation.

"Didn't the officers read newspapers or social media? Haven't they read... even if they are not served, the affidavit should have been here. All Chief Secretaries remain present here on November 3," remarked the Justice Nath-led Bench.

On October 31, the Supreme Court denied Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's request for virtual appearances, insisting that Chief Secretaries must physically attend the proceedings.

The court had previously instructed all states and UTs to submit affidavits outlining measures taken to enforce the ABC Rules, including sterilization campaigns, vaccination programs, and the establishment of animal shelters and pounds.

The court warned that continued non-compliance could result in coercive measures and financial penalties. This case, which has attracted numerous intervention pleas from residents' welfare associations and individuals, remains under close Supreme Court supervision, which emphasized that the issue impacts both public safety and India's international reputation.

"Continuous incidents are happening, and the image of the country is being shown as down in the eyes of foreign nations. We are also reading news reports," the court had observed.