The Supreme Court on Friday (October 9) sought a response from the Central and Kerala governments on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking immediate halt to the killing of street dog by Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation. Notice has also been issued to Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation.
A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice P.C. Pant sought the response of the governments and the civic body as public interest petitioner (advocate) Anupam Tripathi described as illegal and cruel the killing of the street and stray dogs.
Petitioner Tripathi told the court that the decision to cull the stray dogs was against the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the Animal Birth Control Rules and the other penal provisions.
Having issued notice returnable in two weeks, the court asked senior counsel (and Supreme Court Bar Association President) Dushyant Dave to assist the court in the matter as it directed next hearing of the matter on October 26, 2015. Previously, this matter had been listed before the Supreme Court before the bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice V. Gopala Gowda on 28 September when that bench directed to list this matter on October 9, 2015, before the bench handling connected matters.
The culling of the stray dogs is being carried out following an all-party meeting July 9, with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the chair, where it was decided to eliminate more than 2.5 lakh street dogs.
