Stray dog menace: SC to decide if central rules or state laws prevail

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will decidd whether the laws enacted by the states or the Central government's 2001 Animal Birth Control Rules would prevail in dealing with the problem of stray dogs.

Referring to the divergent views taken by different High Courts including those of Kerala, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and others while Bombay High Court was divided on the issue, a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar fixed August 11 for the hearing of the matter.

In the course of the hearing which was largely centred around on the menace of stray dogs in Kerala, the court was told that 752 claims for compensation have been filed before the committee headed by Justice Siri Jagan, a former judge of Kerala High Court.

Of 752 claims for compensation on account of dog bites, 154 have been adjudicated. In some cases, the compensation has been awarded and in others. it has been turned down.

The court was told of the 19 recommendations for compensation, 18 have been made good and compensation paid. However, one case was relating to the Union Territory of Puddcherry.

The court directed the Kerala government to examine eight reports submitted by Justice Siri Jagan and pay compensation where there are no objections. It also sought report on the cases in which compensation has been paid.

The court was on Monday told that State government has traced steps for setting up Dog Zoo spread over an area of two to three acres of land in every district panchayat.

This was contested by senior counsel Anand Grover and others who said that there was no concept of Dog Zoo in the Animal Birth Control Rules 2001.

Meanwhile, the bench said that it was the obligation of the State to see that dog bites are reduced and proper legal steps are taken in this regard.

--IANS

pk/vd