By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 1: The High Court of Meghalaya has urged the Supreme Court of India to let it retain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the menace of stray dogs in the state, arguing that the issue here is of a “peculiar and distinctive” nature.
The request follows a directive from the apex court ordering the transfer of all stray dog-related PILs from various high courts for consolidated hearing.
In its order dated August 30, a division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh observed that while stray dog problems are common across India, Meghalaya faces an unusually severe situation owing to the “aggressive” behaviour of the dogs.
“We feel it is our duty to point out that in this state, stray dogs pose a peculiarly distinctive menace. Quite a number of them are biter dogs and very vicious in nature. They suddenly attack people on roads, streets and other public places, at times causing grave injury,” the bench noted.
Earlier, in the ongoing PIL, the High Court had directed authorities to seize aggressive dogs, vaccinate and treat them, and keep them in shelters under observation.
The court stressed that releasing such animals back into public spaces without proper assessment would endanger public safety.
Finally, the court directed the Registrar General to formally approach the Supreme Court, strongly recommending that the matter remain under its jurisdiction because of its “peculiar and distinctive” circumstances.