The Supreme Court reprimanded states and UTs for not complying with its August 22, 2025, directive on stray dog management.
The directive mandated sterilization, deworming, and immunization of stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.
Chief Secretaries of defaulting states and UTs must appear in court on November 3 to explain non-compliance.
Only Telangana, West Bengal, and MCD have submitted compliance reports.
Detailed Insights:
The Supreme Court expressed concern that repeated stray dog attacks are tarnishing India's image internationally.
The ABC Rules, 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, outline procedures for managing stray dog populations humanely.
The court had granted states and UTs approximately eight weeks to report on the implementation of the ABC Rules, emphasizing sterilization and anti-rabies drives.
The catch-neuter-vaccinate-release (CNVR) model is a key component of the ABC Rules, aiming to control dog populations and reduce rabies risk.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is a central legislation in India addressing animal welfare and preventing unnecessary suffering.
Key Concepts Involved:
Sterilization: Surgical procedure to prevent animals from reproducing.
Immunization: Process of making an animal resistant to infectious diseases.
Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules: Guidelines for managing stray dog populations through sterilization and vaccination.