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Indian Express
15 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
Supreme Court on stray dogs: Here's what you need to know
Media reports of some of the questions asked and observations made by a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta on July 15, 2025, have created a flutter. The bench was hearing a petition by a Noida resident, Reema Shah, against an order by the Allahabad High Court on March 3. She, according to media reports, had approached it seeking the issue of directions to the Noida Authority and others not to harass her, other feeders, as well as any other institution that fed community dogs and animals, both in her society and outside it in Noida. The petitioner, the counsel said, was subjected to harassment and was unable to feed community dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules. Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (Popularly known as ABC Rules), which deals with the feeding of community animals, states, 'It shall be [the] responsibility of the Resident Welfare Association or Apartment Owner Association or Local Body's representative of that area to make necessary arrangement for feeding of community animals residing in the premises or that area involving the person residing in that area or premises as the case may be, who feeds those animals or intends to feed those animals and provides care to street animals as a compassionate gesture.' It also contains provisions seeking to safeguard the safety and well-being of human beings in the area in the context of feeding. Several judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts have upheld the validity of the ABC Rules. Feeding, commonly misunderstood as an act of kindness, also ensures that dogs are healthy and capable of undergoing sterilisation. The ABC Rules also mandate sterilisation, which, as experience in India and abroad shows, is the only way to stabilise the population of street dogs. Moreover, unlike dogs that are fed and vaccinated, hungry dogs, like a hungry creature of any species, are prone to turning violent. Hence, the petitioner, in this case, was asserting a statutory right as well as performing a constitutional duty. To prevent conflict, the petitioner had sought directions for identifying open, designated areas in Noida where community dogs could be fed without triggering disputes. These are referred to in the ABC Rules as 'feeding spots,' which are for the RWAs to designate. It was reported that the Supreme Court, while hearing her appeal, made certain remarks, including asking, 'Why don't you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you.' The bench had also stated, 'We give you a suggestion to open a shelter in your own house. Feed every dog in the community in your own house.' Earlier, similar remarks of the Nagpur Bench of the High Court of Bombay were expunged by the Supreme Court. On November 16, 2022, a Supreme Court bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna (subsequently Chief Justice of India) and J K Maheshwari, had stayed a Bombay High Court order (Nagpur bench) banning public feeding of street dogs and directed the authorities not to take any coercive step against anyone in pursuance of the order passed by the Nagpur Bench of the High Court on October 21, 2022, Further, the Bench put in abeyance the High Court's observation that persons who fed street dogs must adopt them. Meanwhile, media coverage of the remarks of the Supreme Court in this instance has led to the belief that it is an order by the court. Significantly, the Bench did not issue any direction asking the appellant to feed stray dogs at home. Its order stated, 'Tag with Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 14763 of 2024 arising out of Diary No. 9352 of 2024.'. The point is that judges make many observations and ask many questions during hearings to get at the truth or at the heart of the issues involved in a litigation. It is also not uncommon for certain light-hearted exchanges to occur between the bench and counsel. It is also important to note that the honourable judges did not say anything about the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The animal birth control programme, implemented under these guidelines, is the only humane and effective way to control the population of stray dogs. In its report, Technical Report Series 931, WHO's Expert Consultation on Rabies, which met in Geneva from October 5 to 8, 2004, states: 'Since the 1960s, ABC programmes coupled with rabies vaccination have been advocated as a method to control urban street male and female dog populations and ultimately human rabies in Asia.' The writer is a senior journalist
Mint
a day ago
- General
- Mint
‘All space for animals, no space for humans': Supreme Court asks petitioner to feed stray dogs ‘in your home'
During a hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court responded to a plea about alleged harassment for feeding community dogs in Noida by asking the petitioner, 'Why don't you feed them at your own home?' As reported by PTI, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta told the petitioner's counsel, 'We should leave every lane, every road open for these large-hearted people? There is all the space for these animals, no space for humans. Why don't you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you.' The plea related to a March 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court. The petitioner, the counsel said, was subjected to harassment and was unable to feed community dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules. Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 deals with the feeding of community animals and puts onus on the resident welfare association or apartment owner association or local body's representative of the local area to make necessary arrangements for the feeding of community animals residing in the premises or that area. The top court, however, said, 'We give you a suggestion to open a shelter in your own house. Feed every dog in the community in your own house.' The petitioner's lawyer argued that they were following the regulations and noted that while the municipality was setting up designated feeding areas in Greater Noida, no such arrangements had been made in Noida. He suggested that feeding points could be established in locations that are not commonly used by the public. 'You go on cycling in the morning?' the bench asked, 'try doing it and see what happens'. When the counsel said he goes on morning walks and sees several dogs, the bench said, 'Morning walkers are also at risk. Cycle riders and two-wheelers are at greater risk.' The bench then tagged the plea with a separate pending plea on a similar issue. In the high court, the petitioner sought directions to the authorities to implement provisions of the rules with due care and caution keeping in view the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. 'While protection of street dogs would be warranted in accordance with the provisions of the applicable statute, at the same time, the authorities will have to bear in mind the concern of common man, such that their movement on streets are not hampered by attacks by these street dogs,' the high court said. The high court, therefore, expected the state authorities to exhibit "due sensitivity" to the concerns of the petitioner and the common man on the streets. The High Court stated that its observations were important due to the recent rise in street dog attacks, which have caused fatalities and serious inconvenience to pedestrians. There is all the space for these animals, no space for humans. We give you a suggestion to open a shelter in your own house. Feed every dog in the community in your own house. The court dismissed the plea while directing auSRthorities to address the concerns it raised. It emphasised the need to protect stray animals while also ensuring that public safety and the interests of pedestrians are not compromised.
India Today
2 days ago
- General
- India Today
Why don't you feed stray dogs at your house? Supreme Court pulls up Noida man
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, while hearing a plea alleging harassment over the feeding of community dogs in Noida, asked the petitioner, "Why don't you feed them in your own house?"A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta told the petitioner's counsel, "We should leave every lane, every road open for these large hearted people? There is all space for these animals, no space for humans. Why don't you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you."advertisementThe plea related to a March 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court. The petitioner, the counsel said, was subjected to harassment and was unable to feed community dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 deals with the feeding of community animals and puts the onus on the resident welfare association or apartment owner association or local body's representative of the local area to make necessary arrangements for the feeding of community animals residing in the premises or that top court, however, said, "We give you a suggestion to open a shelter in your own house. Feed every dog in the community in your own house."The petitioner's counsel claimed compliance with the rules and said the municipality was creating such places in Greater Noida but not in said feeding points could be made at a place not frequented by people."You go on cycling in the morning?" the bench asked, "try doing it and see what happens".When the counsel said he goes on morning walks and sees several dogs, the bench said, "Morning walkers are also at risk. Cycle riders and two-wheelers are at greater risk."The bench then tagged the plea with a separate pending plea on a similar the high court, the petitioner sought directions from the authorities to implement provisions of the rules with due care and caution, keeping in view the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960."While protection of street dogs would be warranted in accordance with the provisions of the applicable statute, at the same time, the authorities will have to bear in mind the concerns of common man, such that their movement on streets are not hampered by attacks by these street dogs," the high court high court, therefore, expected the state authorities to exhibit "due sensitivity" to the concerns of the petitioner and the common man on the high court said the observation was necessary because there were many instances of attacks by street dogs on people of late, which have resulted in loss of lives and grave inconvenience to disposed of the plea with a direction to the authorities to ensure that concerns highlighted by the court were duly taken care of and appropriate measures were taken to ensure protection of strays besides ensuring the interest of people on the streets was not jeopardised.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Supreme Court#Noida
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Why don't you feed them in your house? SC asks petitioner over feeding of strays
While hearing a plea alleging harassment over feeding of stray dogs, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the petitioner from Noida, 'Why don't you feed them in your own house?' A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta were hearing a plea related to a Allahabad High Court order from March 2024. The counsel said the petitioner was subjected to harassment and was unable to feed community dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules. After pointing out issues related to conveyance and safety of pedestrians on streets, the apex court bench took a jibe at the petitioner's counsel, asking, 'Why don't you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you.' According to Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, the onus is on resident welfare associations, apartment owners' bodies and local body representatives to make necessary arrangements for feeding strays in the area. The counsel said the municipality was creating such places in Greater Noida but not in Noida. He said feeding points could be made at a place not frequented by people, adding that feeding points could be made at a place not frequented by people. The court asked the counsel if he goes for cycling. When the counsel said he goes on morning walks and comes across several dogs, the bench retorted, 'Morning walkers are also at risk. Cycle riders and two-wheelers are at greater risk.' Following the comment, the bench then tagged the plea with a similar pending plea. During a High Court hearing the petitioner's counsel sought the implementation of rules, keeping in mind the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Noting several instances of stray dog attacks lately, the Allahabad bench, however, pointed out the concerns of the 'common man' with relation to safety and free movement on streets. The High Court disposed the plea while directing authorities to take appropriate steps to ensure the protection of strays while ensuring that interest of people on the streets was not jeopardised. (With PTI inputs)
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
"Space For Animals... But For Humans?" Top Court On Feeding Stray Dogs
New Delhi: An irked Supreme Court told a Noida resident - who had alleged harassment while feeding stray dogs - to do so in their own home. "There is space for these animals... but no space for humans. Should we leave every lane, every road, open for these large-hearted people? Why don't you feed them in your house," Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta said Tuesday. "We will give you that suggestion... open a shelter in your own house. Feed every dog in the community in your own house," the Supreme Court shot back this afternoon, after the petitioner claimed the local municipality had created such places in Greater Noida but not in Noida. The top court was hearing a plea - related to a March 25 order of the Allahabad High Court - alleging harassment while feeding of stray dogs in a community in Noida. The petitioner said they were not allowed to feed the dogs, in violation of the Animal Birth Control Rules. Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules deals with feeding of community animals, including dogs, and puts the onus on resident welfare associations or apartment owners associations. RWAs and/or AOAs are expected to designate areas in the colony to feed the animals and to do so at specified times only. These areas and times must not impact children and the elderly. The feeding, and care of, stray animals, particularly dogs, has been a contentious issue over the past few years. There have been several reports of stray dogs attacking and even killing children, such as a teen boy in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa last week and another in Nagpur in Maharashtra. With that danger in mind, the court asked the petitioner, "You go cycling in the morning? Try doing that and see what happens..." The petitioner said they went on morning walks, to which the court responded, "Morning walkers are also at risk. Bicycle riders are at greater risk." In the Allahabad High Court, the petitioner had sought directions to implement rules regarding feeding of stray dogs in line with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The court tried to balance the two issues, i.e., feeding of the dogs and safety of people. "While protection of street dogs would be warranted in accordance with the provisions of the applicable statute... at the same time, the authorities will have to bear in mind the concern of common man, such that their movement on streets are not hampered by attacks..." The High Court, therefore, said it expected the state authorities to exhibit "due sensitivity" to the concerns of the petitioner and the common man on the streets.
