New Delhi, Nov 3: Chief Secretaries from various states and Union Territories appeared before the Supreme Court on Monday and offered an unconditional apology for failing to file compliance affidavits on measures to address the menace of stray dog bites.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria noted the apologies and said it would soon issue directions regulating the feeding of stray dogs within government premises.
“We will issue an order in a few days regarding government institutions where employees are supporting and encouraging dogs in the area,” the bench said.
Justice Nath also mentioned that the court would hear the concerns of dog bite victims, listing the matter for further hearing on November 7.
During the brief proceedings, the court impleaded the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) as a respondent and confirmed that Senior Advocate Gaurav Agarwal would continue as amicus curiae to assist in the case.
At the previous hearing on October 31, the Supreme Court had declined Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s request to exempt the Chief Secretaries from personally appearing in court, remarking, “Let them come.”
The court had earlier directed all Chief Secretaries—except those from West Bengal and Telangana—to appear on Monday and explain why compliance affidavits had not been filed in accordance with its August 22 order.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Mehta informed the bench that most states had since submitted their affidavits. Taking note of this, the court acknowledged the presence of the Chief Secretaries and recorded that compliance documents were now on record.
The bench excused the officials from appearing at future hearings but cautioned that any further non-compliance would compel the court to summon them again.
In its August 22 order, the Supreme Court had broadened the scope of the stray dog issue beyond the Delhi-NCR region, directing all states and Union Territories to be made parties to the proceedings and to submit compliance affidavits under the Animal Birth Control Rules.
