HC directs state to establish committees

Mumbai, Apr 20 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to set up committees as per rules framed by the Central Government, under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, to capture, sterilise and dump stray dogs out of city limits.

The menace of stray dogs had been under consideration of full bench of the High Court comprising Justices S Radhakrishnan, Dilip Bhosale and V K Tahilramani. The matter was referred to the full bench, as a division bench in Goa had expressed views favouring killing of stray dogs, contradicting a 1999 division bench judgment of the same High Court, in which sterilisation of stray dogs was ordered and local bodies were restrained from killing them.

Accepting contention of Solicitor General Goolam Vehanvati, the court said the issue of stray dogs should be resolved as per rules framed by the Central government, under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The court directed the MCGM to set up a committee for Greater Mumbai, as provided in the Central rules. Considering vast geographical area of the island city the court has allowed the Corporation to undertake actual functioning of the committee through six sub-committees, one each for civic zones. Same formula would be undertaken in the State of Goa, where the court has allowed four sub-committees, two each for south and north Goa.

The court clarified, the committees, consisting of civic officials as well as Animal Lovers would take care of all aspects of capturing, sterilising and release of stray dogs, as provided in the rules. The full bench remarked that, unless sterilised dogs were removed far off from city limits, the menace would not stop and directed the MCGM to dump stray dogs out of city limits as soon as they are sterilised. The court has also asked the state government to provide at least 50 acres of land in nearby interiors, where dog shelter could be set up.

UNI