High Court stays state government order to euthanise stray dogs

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has temporarily stayed the government’s decision to euthanise stray dogs that are seriously ill or injured until further orders. The single bench observed that strict implementation of the directions issued by the Supreme Court and the High Court, based on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control Rules, could address the fear of stray dogs. The court stayed the euthanasia decision, directing the government to rectify existing shortcomings.

In an interim order, Justice C.S. Dias also directed that district-level committees to consider compensation claims of dog bite victims must be formed in all districts within one month.

These committees will include the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, the District Medical Officer, and the Joint Director of Local Self-Government. The remaining complaints before the Justice S. Siri Jagan Committee should be taken over by the Kerala Legal Services Authority and forwarded to the district committees. The court also ordered that these be treated as new applications and resolved quickly.

Advocate P. Deepak was appointed as amicus curiae in the matter. The court also voluntarily added the State Police Chief and the Disaster Management Authority as parties to the case. The DGP was directed to submit details within two weeks of cases registered in the past year related to dog bites and cruelty to animals. The court had earlier orally observed that since local body secretaries are the custodians of stray dogs, they will be held responsible in such cases.