Overview
- The bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N. V. Anjaria resumed hearings on January 7, stressing that people are dying from dog bites and accidents caused by stray animals on roads.
- The court flagged non-compliance by major states, noting missing or inadequate affidavits from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and warned it would take a harsh view.
- Amicus Gaurav Agarwal reported AWBI’s SOPs for shelters and removals and NHAI’s identification of roughly 1,400 km of vulnerable highway stretches, with the bench suggesting fencing and coordinated state action.
- Arguments underscored a policy divide as Kapil Sibal urged adoption of the CSVR model over mass sheltering, Colin Gonsalves questioned bite data accuracy, and K. K. Venugopal highlighted a shortage of shelters.
- The court reiterated its November 7 directions to remove dogs from schools, hospitals, bus stands and railway stations without returning them to those sites, and said arguments will continue on Thursday.