Supreme Court reserves verdict on stray dog issue, questions fake sterilization claims

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its decision on a crucial hearing on petitions related to the nationwide stray dog ​​problem. After hearing arguments from all parties, the three-member bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice NV Anjaria directed the lawyers to submit their written arguments within a week. During the hearing, the court also made strong comments regarding alleged falsification of sterilization data and misappropriation of funds.

An app will be developed to upload photos of animals on the highway

During the hearing, the court made an important suggestion to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The bench stated that the presence of stray animals on highways contributes to accidents, and therefore, the NHAI should develop a mobile app where citizens can take and upload photos of any animals they see. This will provide the department with visuals along with the location, making action easier. The NHAI lawyer agreed with the court's suggestion and stated that they would do so soon.

Only 76 centres are valid, but 883 centres are running on paper in the states

During the final round of hearings, the lawyer for the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) made a startling revelation. He told the court that the number of sterilization centers in the country recognized by the board is only 76, while data from various states claims that 883 centers are in operation. This means that hundreds of centers are either operating without recognition or exist only on paper. The lawyer added that more than 250 applications are still pending.

Fewer dogs, more sterilizations? Court uncovers fund fraud

Pointing out the discrepancy in the data, the lawyer cited the example of Uttarakhand. He said that the dog population there is low, but the sterilization figures are shown to be higher than the total number of dogs. The Supreme Court sarcastically remarked, "The reasons are quite clear. Everyone knows the reason behind it (fund/grant)." When the lawyer said, "The less said on this, the better," the court agreed, saying, "Yes, the less said the better."

States reprimanded for vague affidavits

In a previous hearing, the court expressed strong displeasure with the vague affidavits filed by several states. In today's hearing, dog owners, dog bite victims, animal rights activists, and lawyers for the central and state governments presented their arguments. Finally, the court directed the AWBI to process all pending applications within a specified timeframe—whether they were approved or rejected, but not kept pending.