In a significant legal development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed that all contempt petitions concerning stray dog management be sent to the Supreme Court. The court’s decision, aimed at ensuring a consolidated and uniform approach, aligns with recent directions issued by the apex court. The stray dog case transfer is expected to set a nationwide precedent.
Justice Vikas Bahl observed that the Supreme Court, on August 22, had ordered the impleadment of all States, Union Territories, and local bodies to ensure compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The apex court further directed that all similar matters pending before the High Courts be transferred for consolidated consideration.
Acting on a joint request from counsel representing multiple municipal bodies and state governments of Punjab, Haryana, and UT Chandigarh, the High Court Registry was asked to forward the case files to the Supreme Court. The matter was initially brought to the High Court’s notice by petitioner Gurmukh Singh, who highlighted the menace of street dogs in Chandigarh. The petitioner alleged he was chased by dogs during a morning walk and that several bite cases had been reported in the area.
The court had taken a serious view of the matter, observing a “manifold increase” in the stray dog population in Punjab and Haryana despite the existing programs. It had also called for affidavits from all municipal corporations detailing the number of dog bites and the action taken for sterilisation and vaccination. The transfer of these cases to the Supreme Court marks an escalation of the issue to a national level, seeking a definitive resolution to a persistent public problem.