New Delhi: Within 24 hours of its order to clear streets in Delhi-NCR of stray dogs in eight weeks, the Supreme Court has issued a directive for the court premises—dispose of all leftover food in sealed bins to stop animals from roaming and biting.
On 12 August, the SC instructed a “mandatory disposal of leftover food in covered bins to prevent animal bites”, citing a spike in stray dog sightings, even inside court lifts.
A circular issued by the SC administrative general branch said all leftover food must be disposed of properly. “All leftover food items must be disposed of exclusively in properly covered dustbins. Under no circumstances should food be discarded in open areas or uncovered containers. This measure is crucial to prevent animals from being attracted to and scavenging for food, thereby significantly reducing the risk of bites and maintaining hygiene standards,” the SC circular stated.
According to the notice, the directive follows incidents of stray dogs roaming in court corridors and inside lifts in and around the court complex, with the frequency of the incidents rising in recent times. Reports of animal bites in the vicinity also have increased.
The circular noted that the decision came following a joint meeting of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on ways to address the stray dog problem, as well as how to implement the plan with immediate effect.
Previously, on Monday, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, hearing a case on rabies-related deaths, said, “This should be the first and foremost exercise—to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking any exercise.”
When informed that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2013, mandated the release of sterilised dogs, the court remarked, “Forget the rules for the time being.”
Justice Pardiwala emphasised, “We are not doing this for us; it is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Actions will be taken at the earliest.”
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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