The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria also ordered that rabid, incurably ill or dangerous/aggressive dogs can be euthanised by proper authorities to curb threat to human life and safety, subject to assessment by qualified veterinary experts and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and other laws.
"In areas where the population of stray dogs has assumed alarming proportions and where incidents of dog bites or aggressive attacks have become frequent and pose a continuing threat to public safety, the concerned authorities may, subject to due assessment by qualified veterinary experts and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and other applicable statutory protocols, take such measures as may be legally permissible, including euthanasia in cases involving rabid, incurably ill or demonstrably dangerous/aggressive dogs, so as to effectively curb the threat posed to human life and safety," the Bench said.
The Court made it clear that government officials acting in good faith to ensure implementation of its directions shall be entitled to due protection of law for acts performed in good faith.
It added that a first information report (FIR) against them can be registered only when there is a prima facie case of mala fide or gross abuse of authority.
The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria also ordered that rabid, incurably ill or dangerous/aggressive dogs can be euthanised by proper authorities to curb threat to human life and safety, subject to assessment by qualified veterinary experts and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and other laws.
"In areas where the population of stray dogs has assumed alarming proportions and where incidents of dog bites or aggressive attacks have become frequent and pose a continuing threat to public safety, the concerned authorities may, subject to due assessment by qualified veterinary experts and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and other applicable statutory protocols, take such measures as may be legally permissible, including euthanasia in cases involving rabid, incurably ill or demonstrably dangerous/aggressive dogs, so as to effectively curb the threat posed to human life and safety," the Bench said.
The Court made it clear that government officials acting in good faith to ensure implementation of its directions shall be entitled to due protection of law for acts performed in good faith. It added that a first information report (FIR) against them can be registered only when there is a prima facie case of mala fide or gross abuse of authority.
