New Delhi: The Supreme Court has adopted a strict stance on the increasing incidents of stray dog attacks across the country. Issuing an order on Friday, the court has given instructions to remove stray dogs from hospitals, educational institutions, bus stands and railway stations across the country including Delhi-NCR. The court said that there has been an alarming increase in dog attacks at these places, which is adversely affecting the safety of citizens as well as India’s international image. The Supreme Court also remarked that now this problem is no longer limited to densely populated or rural areas, but has spread to hospitals, schools and public premises. The court expressed concern about public safety and said that such incidents are affecting not only common citizens but also foreign tourists.
In its order, the Supreme Court cited a report by NDTV, which stated that foreign citizens coming to India are also becoming victims of stray dog attacks. The court referred to an incident in Bengaluru, where a Welsh entrepreneur was bitten by a stray dog while on a morning run. The court said that this is not just an isolated incident, but it is an indication that dog attacks have now taken the form of a serious public menace. The court also said that this situation is not only a threat to the lives of citizens, but is also affecting tourism and India’s international reputation.
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria said that there has been a worrying increase in dog attacks in educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations. Incidents of attacks on children in school campuses, biting of patients and attendants in hospitals, attacks on athletes and officials in sports stadiums have come to the notice of the Court. The court said that the continuous recurrence of these incidents reflects administrative apathy and failure of the system. The court warned that this situation is a violation of the fundamental right to life and security of citizens under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court directed all the states and union territories to ensure removal of stray dogs from all educational institutions, hospitals, public sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations with immediate effect. Along with this, the court also said that proper fencing of these premises should be done so that the entry of dogs can be prevented in future. The bench also said that it is necessary to take immediate steps in public interest so that the safety of children, patients and passengers can be ensured.
The court said in its order that administrative agencies will now have to accept that the problem of stray dogs has become an issue not only of animal welfare but also of human safety. The court made it clear that protection of the fundamental rights of the public is paramount and unsafe environment will not be tolerated in any institution.
