The Supreme Court in the case Animal Welfare Board of India V. People For Elimination of Stray Troubles was hearing the matter which relates to the curbing of stray dog attacks in the country.
The bench comprising of Justice J K Maheswari and Justice K V Viswanathan in the case observed while considering the batch of matters which include the petition moved by the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, KeSCPCR citing the increase in stray dog attacks in Kerala, especially against children, seeking directions to curb the menace.
Therefore, the statutory body has filed an intervention application before the Supreme Court in a pending civil appeal in which the Kannur district panchayat has also filed a plea for a direction to euthanize suspected rabid or extremely dangerous dogs in the district. Thus, the five High Court orders are under challenge, in the batch of matters before the Apex Court.
The Supreme Court in the case was previously was hearing and has orally remarked that it does not intend to issue any interim directions and that it wants to hear the matter on merits and issue concrete guidelines.
The bench headed by Justice J K Maheswari remarked that the intention in this case is very clear, this court do not want to give any interim directions. We want to go through statue, rules, implementation, problem and solution and issue guidelines. Thus, the litigation in other High Courts can be curtailed.
The bench in the case noted when the matter came up for hearing that service to several respondents were incomplete.
The court in the case observed and has directed service to be completed on unserved respondents in 4 weeks service to be completed on unserved respondents in 4 weeks.
It has also been stated by the said court that if at the next date of hearing, service is incomplete, those matters will be segregated and hearing will commence on matters where service is complete.
The court while considering the facts and circumstances of the case stated that the Nodal officers on either side of the matter to file compilations of affidavits and written submissions by December 15, 2023. Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on January 10, 2024.
