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The Telangana High Court on Friday stressed that the authorities should focus on curbing incidents of stray dog attacks on humans and directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to explore the possibility of setting up a rehabilitation centre for stray dogs outside the municipal limits of Hyderabad city.
The high court asked GHMC to file an affidavit explaining its implementation of statutory obligations under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The civic body should also apprise the high court of the progress of the drive to curb dog attacks, which was initiated based on a report submitted by the high court on July 30.
The order was passed by a bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao on two public interest litigation (PIL) petitions regarding attacks on children and adults by stray dogs in the city and other parts of the state. The court directed the GHMC to set up a dedicated animal birth control helpline to respond to complaints regarding stray dog attacks or movement of stray dogs.
Referring to news reports of a stray dog mauling an elderly woman to death in Rajana Sirisila district on Thursday, the chief justice said: [a] Very sad situation because we cannot create an environment where babies and [the] Seniors are safe.”
While hearing the submissions made by Attorney General A. Sudarshan Reddy on the steps taken by the municipality to control stray dog attacks, the Chief Justice observed that the government should come up with solutions. Instead of explaining the difficulties in curbing the menace, officials should focus on what can be done. The issue should be addressed in a “proactive” manner instead of focusing on rules alone, he said.
The bench made it clear under the ABC Rules that dogs captured for sterilisation or vaccination should be released in the same area. However, the bench pointed out that if stray dogs are captured for rehabilitation, they need not be released in the same area. Earlier, the AG explained that the GHMC had directed its chief town planner to ensure that every establishment with 50 or more employees has a creche.
The GHMC has set up an online link to register dog keepers, who will have to ensure that all stray dogs are sterilised and vaccinated on time. The civic body is also developing a mobile app to monitor real-time data on stray dogs captured; pet dog registration; details of feeding points and dog keepers; and the number of times dogs are sterilised and vaccinated.
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