NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has rejected Kerala's plea seeking emergency permission to kill stray dogs infected with rabies and aggressive stray dogs. A bench of Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice JK Maheshwari said that the hearing on the related petitions will be held next February. The court also observed that it is appropriate to raise individual cases in the High Court as local issues have to be considered.

Adv CK Sasi, who appeared for the state government, demanded that the ban imposed by the High Court on Kudumbashree from sterilizing stray dogs be lifted. The apex court directed the government to file a Special Leave Petition against the High Court order.

Citing the Justice Sirijagan Committee report, the Supreme Court observed that the number of dog bites in Kerala is increasing every year. When advocate V Chidambaresh pointed out that a bench of Justice Jayashankar Nambiar and Justice Gopinath Menon had been constituted in the Kerala High Court to hear petitions related to stray dog ​​attacks, the Supreme Court clarified that this bench can hear individual cases.

The court also said that it cannot immediately accept the request of the petitioners' lawyer Biju to allow the killing of aggressive stray dogs.

Observations made by the Court

• The complainants can approach the High Court if there is violence against dogs in violation of the law.
• The Animal Welfare Board should submit the figures regarding the stray dog ​​attacks in the country, including Kerala, in the past seven years.
• Recommendations should also be submitted to deal with street dog attacks.