Supreme Court Rejects Bihar Chief Secretary’s Plea For Exemption In Stray Dog Case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant relief to the Chief Secretary of Bihar, directing him to appear in person before the bench on 3 November in connection with the stray dog menace case.

The Chief Secretary had sought exemption from personal appearance, citing his involvement in election-related work for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls.

Appearing on behalf of the state, the counsel argued that due to election responsibilities, the Chief Secretary could not attend the hearing.

However, the bench, comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, dismissed the plea and clarified that conducting elections is the responsibility of the Election Commission, not the state government.

The bench questioned why several states had failed to file their compliance reports despite earlier directions.

It also issued fresh notices to Union Territories for failing to submit responses.

Justice Vikram Nath expressed concern over the growing number of dog attack incidents, stating that such events were tarnishing India’s image abroad.

“Such incidents are repeatedly occurring, and we are reading about them in newspapers. It is damaging the country’s reputation,” he remarked.

Centre and States Pulled Up

The court reprimanded the Centre for its inaction and noted that while Telangana, West Bengal, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had filed their replies, the documents were yet to be officially placed on record.

The bench criticised state governments and central representatives for being indifferent to the seriousness of the issue, stating, “Do you not read the news? You must be watching social media. People are suffering; this has become a joke now.”

The case stems from a suo motu cognisance taken by the Supreme Court on 11 August, following increasing reports of stray dog attacks across the country.

A bench led by Justice Pardiwala had earlier directed authorities to release only sterilised stray dogs and to detain violent ones.

The court also warned NGOs and dog lovers against obstructing official action, stating that any interference with its orders would attract penalties.

The bench had further clarified that any individual wishing to adopt a stray dog must first apply formally, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, along with other local bodies, would designate adoption zones.

Next Hearing on 3 November

The Supreme Court reaffirmed that all Chief Secretaries of states and Union Territories must appear before it on 3 November.

It reiterated that ensuring public safety and proper animal control falls under the duty of both state and central authorities.

The upcoming hearing is expected to review compliance with sterilisation and adoption guidelines issued earlier.

The court’s firm stance underscores its intent to enforce accountability in tackling the stray dog menace, balancing public safety with humane treatment of animals.

The verdict is likely to influence state-level policies on sterilisation, shelter management, and animal adoption across India.

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