THOSE WHO FEED STRAY DOGS COULD BE HELD LIABLE IF CANINES ATTACK PEOPLE, SAYS SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court on Friday suggested people who routinely feed stray dogs could be made responsible for their vaccination and also liable to bear the costs if those animals attack people, while emphasising on a need to find a solution to the stray dogs` menace.
The honorable Supreme Court of India has restored some sanity in the matter.Many “stray dog lovers” had starting putting the rights of the stray dogs over and above the rights of humans.
Many innocent people, especially children, get attacked and bitten by the packs of stray dogs, which are encouraged by those feeding them daily. And when those dogs bite someone in the society, they start blaming or bullying the victim only!
The Supreme Court has finally addressed this matter. If someone in a society or a locality, encourages the presence of stray dogs by feeding them, then in case of those strays attacking/biting someone, the feeder can be sued.
Cite this legal precedent if any stray dog activst tries to bully you for objecting to the menace of stray dogs.
5 MORE POINTS FOR THIS BIG STORY ON DOG BITING INCIDENTS:
- Advocate V.K. Biju submitted that since August 8 persons have died and schoolchildren and women are being attacked by ferocious dogs in public places.
- Biju had recently raised the issue of stray dogs’ attacks before the top court and highlighted the recent death of a 12-year-old victim in Kerala.
- Counsel, representing the Kerala government, cited Kerala High Court judgment passed in 2015, to cull the stray dog population as per local body laws.
- The court also asked the Sri Jagan Commission, formed by the Supreme Court in 2016 to inquire into complaints about dog attacks and distribution of compensation to victims in Kerala, to submit a report.
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After hearing arguments, the top court scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 28, and permitted animal rights groups to intervene.
1.5 crore dog bites cases in India
Data shows India recorded over 1.5 crore animal bite cases since 2019. The highest number of cases were recorded in Uttar Pradesh (27,52,218), followed by Tamil Nadu (20,70,921), Maharashtra (15,75,606) and West Bengal (12,09,232). On the other hand, Lakshadweep reported zero dog bite cases in the same period.
The year 2019 saw a colossal 72,77,523 animal bite cases, which declined to 46,33,493 in 2020 and 17,01,133 a year later. However, the first seven months of 2022 alone recorded over 14.5 lakh instances. The highest number of cases this year were recorded in Tamil Nadu (251,510) and Maharashtra (231,531). India also reports over 100 rabies cases and deaths every year.
However, dog bite incidents involving strays have been much more than those involving pets. As per 2019 count, India has 1,53,09,355 stray dogs, down from 1,71,38,349 in 2012. The highest number of stray dogs are found in Uttar Pradesh (20,59,261), Odisha (17,34,399) and Maharashtra (12,76,399). Manipur, Lakshadweep and Dadra & Nagar Haveli reported zero stray dogs.
The apex court has been hearing a batch of petitions on issues relating to orders passed by various civic bodies on the culling of stray dogs which have become a menace, especially in Kerala and Mumbai.
Some NGOs and individual petitioners have moved the apex court against the decisions of some high courts, including the Bombay High Court and Kerala High Court, to allow municipal authorities to deal with the stray dogs’ menace as per the rules.