A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking measures to protect citizens from stray dog attacks. The plea, filed by Parvatheneni Hari Krishna, calls for urgent actions including a ban on feeding stray dogs without prior approval, the establishment of a public-accessible portal or live Dashboard to report incidents of stray dog attacks facilitated by feeding, and the immediate mass removal of stray dogs or their containment in special enclosures until appropriate legislation is enacted.
Krishna’s petition also advocates for imposing costs on individuals interested in feeding stray dogs, emphasizing the need for accountability in managing stray populations. During the court proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel stressed the necessity of neutering and sterilizing all stray dogs as an immediate solution. Supporting this argument, an RTI application was presented detailing the frequency of anti-rabies vaccinations administered in the past month.
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Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R. Ragunandan Rao, presiding over the case, acknowledged existing legislation aimed at addressing stray dog issues and noted ongoing localized efforts to curb attacks. Responding to the plea for confining all street dogs to designated areas until a permanent solution is found, the Bench cautioned against the potential for increased aggression among confined dogs. Instead, they endorsed the approach of sterilizing, vaccinating, and releasing stray dogs back into their habitats, citing supportive literature.
The Bench further questioned the authorities on the maintenance of a comprehensive headcount of stray dogs, as well as the extent of current efforts in vaccination and neutering. They granted a two-week period for the submission of a detailed response addressing these inquiries.
This PIL underscores growing concerns over public safety in light of escalating incidents of stray dog attacks, prompting judicial scrutiny and the exploration of effective and humane strategies for managing stray populations in Andhra Pradesh.
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