SC Orders Chief Secretaries to Appear in Person Over Stray Dog Issue

The Supreme Court of India has directed the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories, except Telangana and West Bengal, to appear physically before it on November 3 in the ongoing stray dog menace case. The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, expressed sharp disapproval over the states’ failure to file compliance affidavits despite repeated orders.

The court observed that several state governments have shown disregard for its directions, forcing the judiciary to step in on matters that should have been resolved by municipal and state authorities. The Solicitor General’s plea to allow the officials to attend via video conference was rejected, as the court insisted on their physical presence.

Earlier, on October 27, the apex court had ordered the appearance of Chief Secretaries after noting that many states, including Bihar, had not submitted the required compliance reports. The court had already dismissed Bihar’s separate request for exemption from personal appearance.

The case stems from earlier directions issued in August, when the Supreme Court revised its order on managing stray dogs. It had allowed the release of sterilised and vaccinated dogs back into their original areas, except those found aggressive or infected with rabies, while also restricting public feeding in open spaces.

Expressing frustration, the court remarked that it was unfortunate to spend time on issues that local bodies and state governments should have handled years ago. The bench stressed that the problem has persisted due to lack of accountability and enforcement, despite rules already framed by Parliament.

The November 3 hearing is expected to review compliance status and hold the states accountable for their continued inaction on managing the stray dog crisis nationwide.