- Issues relating to stray dogs in J&K
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 2: A Division Bench of High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh comprising Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal has issued directions for strict implementation of decisions taken by State Level Monitoring Committee for effectively handling the issues relating to stray dogs in the Union Territory.
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After hearing petitioner Devinder Kaur Madaan, Gauri Maulekhi, DSGI T M Shamsi, Advocate Moomin Khan and Senior AAG S S Nanda for the parties, DB said, “the issue relating to stray dogs is certainly a complicated one, which would require very coordinated action from various agencies and authorities including NGOs working in the field and cannot be dealt with in a simple manner”.
“As far as UT of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, it appears that the State Level Monitoring Committee has been constituted to monitor various issues relating to street dogs and 3rd meeting of the Committee was held on 13.02.2024 in which several decisions were taken”, the DB said, adding “the decisions appear to be in the right direction to deal with the issue and it would be more appropriate that the authorities concerned implement the same in its true spirit”.
The DB further said, “though, it appears that both the JMC and SMC have engaged the services of NGOs, but it would require sustained participation of the authorities rather than leaving the issue entirely in the hands of the NGOs”, adding “inasmuch as, from the decision taken by the Committee, it appears that it cannot be left entirely to the NGOs concerned to deal with the issue arising out of stray dogs and accordingly we direct the respondents authorities to report this court as to how effectively the decisions can be carried out”.
“We have also been apprised that constitution of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) within the Urban Development Department would also go a long way in dealing with the various issues arising out of stray dogs in terms of Rules 10(5), 10(6) and 10(7) of the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023. Certain suggestions have also been made and the authorities will examine the same”, the DB said.
The decisions taken by the State Level Monitoring Committee include strict compliance with ABC Rules 2023 for running any Animal Birth Control Programme; constitution of ABC Monitoring Committees at local authority levels; framing of ABC camp calendar and circulation of same among district administrations for necessary support and action; JMC/SMC should cross-verify that the agencies engaged for sterilization and implementation of the programme are recognized by the Animal Welfare Board of India and have obtained Project Recognition in accordance with the ABC Rules and if found noncompliant, the contract with the agency shall be terminated.
Moreover, it has been recommended that Director Urban Local Bodies of Kashmir and Jammu should identify land or abandoned buildings in each district for operationalization of the ABC programme and they should run mobile hospitals in collaboration with District Administrations and Animal Husbandry Department for immediate stop-gap arrangement.
“Awareness Programmes should be carried out on regular basis and hoardings shall be put by Corporations for adoption of stray animals. JMC Commissioner should prepare a roadmap for creation of an SPV for conducting ABC program throughout the UT and a handbook for Animal Management for ULBs of Jammu and Kashmir must be drafted for circulation, which would cover all statutory duties of the local bodies with regard to animal management”, the Committee has further recommended.
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