SHILLONG, March 12: The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the state government and the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) to take concrete steps toward establishing a permanent shelter for stray dogs. The court’s order came in response to a PIL that highlighted the growing menace posed by stray dogs on the streets of Shillong.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh noted that while the SMB had been capturing, vaccinating, and sterilising stray dogs, the absence of a dedicated shelter had aggravated the problem. The court observed that despite measures taken by the authorities, incidents of dog attacks and bites remained frequent.
The government, in a meeting held on February 12, 2025, had decided to allow the SMB to use its animal shelter in Upper Shillong to house stray dogs for a period of 60 days. However, the SMB told the court that the temporary structure currently in place could accommodate only 20 dogs, making long-term planning essential.
The court expressed dissatisfaction over the Board’s failure to raise concerns about the lack of permanent accommodation during the earlier government meeting. It has now directed the state and the SMB to convene another meeting to discuss long-term solutions, including the identification and acquisition of land for a permanent shelter. The court also suggested that temporary accommodations be expanded while a permanent facility is developed.
The state government and the municipal board have been ordered to submit a joint progress report before the next hearing scheduled for May 8, 2025.
