Overview
- Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta rejected Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s plea for virtual attendance, insisting defaulting states’ top officials appear physically.
- The court refused Bihar’s request to excuse Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit due to upcoming assembly elections, noting election conduct is handled by the Election Commission.
- Only West Bengal, Telangana and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have filed the required compliance affidavits under the Animal Birth Control Rules to date.
- The bench said authorities were ‘sleeping over’ orders and warned that continuing incidents were tarnishing India’s image abroad, indicating potential personal accountability for non-compliance.
- The suo motu matter, expanded nationwide on August 22, requires detailed data on sterilisation and vaccination capacity, including dog pounds, veterinarians, catching staff, and specialised vehicles.