Culling stray dogs: SC sought response from Centre, Kerala

The Supreme Court today sought the response of the Centre and Kerala government on a plea to direct the immediate stoppage of "merciless" culling of stray dogs in the state.
A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra issued notices to the Union of India, Kerala government and the Municipal Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram on the PIL that termed as "illegal, cruel and barbaric" the state's July 9 decision to cull stray dogs.
The court also asked senior advocate Dushyant Dave to assist it in the case and put it up for further hearing on October 26.
The PIL, filed by advocate Anupam Tripathi, has said "That vide an all-party meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of State of Kerala dated July 9 has decided to cull and destroy over 2.5 lakh stray dogs in the State of Kerala".

"The Municipal Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram and all similar local municipal bodies in State of Kerala have been given instructions and decision to carry out this culling and destruction of over 2.5 lakh stray dogs in the state.
"It is being submitted by the petitioner that the municipal bodies in State of Kerala are now indiscriminately, barbarically and in the most cruel, grotesque and monstrous manner are on a rampage in carrying these orders of the Chief Minister of State of Kerala and if some reliable sources are to be believed as per newspapers reports and animal rights activists in Kerala, more than 300-1000 plus stray dogs are being mercilessly hacked to death each day in the most cruel fashion," the plea said.

It further said the decision was also against the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the Animal Birth Control Rules (ABC Rules) and the provisions of the Indian Penal Code among other laws.
It sought a direction "to set up an independent Committee" to investigate the killings of innocent stray dogs in Kerala since July 9.