All stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to be moved to shelter homes, orders Supreme Court: 'Not time to talk but act'

Justice Pardiwala also invoked the classic film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly during his observation

While hearing a suo moto case against stray dogs attacking children on streets, the Supreme Court on Monday said the animals must be shifted away from residential localities and any organisation that blocks this exercise will face the strictest action.

The bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan was hearing the matter after taking note of a news report on the rising incidents of rabies deaths following stray dog attacks.  "We are not doing this for us, it is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earliest," Justice Pardiwala said.

He directed amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwala,, who suggested the steps that can be taken to address the stray dog menace, to pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to far-off places. For the time being, forget the rules.

"Let's look at reality, we need to pick up round up with whatever means to ensure dog free locality and that's how children and aged will feel safe," the bench noted.

Justice Pardiwala also invoked the classic film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly during his observation. "Have you seen the classic good, bad and the ugly- when you want to shoot, shoot don't talk. It's not the time to talk but act. All these so called animal lovers, will they be able to bring back those children who have given their lives," he said.

In last hearing, the court expressed alarm over details in a news report revealing that elderly people and children are the most affected by rabies from dog bites.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that a site in Delhi had been identified for relocating stray dogs, but the plan was stalled after animal rights activists obtained a stay order.

The court also directed the state and municipal authorities to create dog shelters with sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise them. "The state of NCT Delhi, MCD and NDMC is directed to create dog shelters and report this Court creation of such infrastructure within 8 weeks. The dog shelters should have sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise. The dog shelter would be monitored by CCTV," the order said.

Earlier this month, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) announced that it will upgrade animal birth control centres and roll out zone-wise anti-rabies awareness drives to tackle the stray dog problem in the national capital.