Kerala Local Body Moved Supreme Court Seeking To Euthanise Rabid Dogs, After Stray Dogs Maul Child To Death

The Supreme Court in the case observed wherein an application was filed by the district panchayat of Kannur seeking the euthanising of suspected rabid dogs or the extremely dangerous dogs in a humane manner in light of the increased violent attacks by stray dogs in the district of Kannur.
In the present case, it has been highlighted in the application that 11-year-old autistic child was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs at Kannur on 11.06.2023 and that a similar incident had happened last year in the Kottayam District of Kerala where a minor aged 12 years had also died due to stray dog attack, wherein it has been stated that the large numbers of dog bite incidents have been reported across the District especially against children.
Further, the application moved mentioned that 5794 stray dogs attacks were reported in 2019, 3951 cases in 2020, 7927 cases in 2021, 11776 cases were reported in 2022 and 6276 cases are reported upto 19.06.2023 in the Kannur District itself. Therefore, it has also been submitted before the court that there are approximately 28000 stray dogs in the limits of the Applicant herein.
However, it has been stated by the Panchayat that despite making every effort to control the issue of stray dogs within the local limits, the incidents of stray dog attacks, bites, and road accidents due to dog collision are increasing day by day within the District Panchayat area as well as throughout the state.
The application moved also argues that 65 ducks and a large number of domestic animals have been killed by the violent stray dogs recently in the State.
Further, the panchayat has prayed the Supreme Court to direct euthanising of “suspected rabid dogs/extremely dangerous dogs in a humane manner.
Therefore, the interlocutory application has been filed in a civil appeal filed challenging a Kerala High Court judgment of 2015. Last year, the Kerala Government had also made a similar request before the Supreme Court.
The counsel, Advocate-on-Record Biju P Raman appeared for the applicant