New Delhi: The Supreme Court has put on hold Delhi High Court’s order which laid down guidelines regarding feeding of stray dogs while observing that citizens have the right to feed them, reported news agency PTI.
On an appeal filed by an NGO against the High Court order, notices were issued to Animal Welfare Board of India, Delhi Government and others by a bench of Justices Vineet Saran and Aniruddha Bose.
"Issue notice, returnable in six weeks. Meanwhile, operation of the impugned order shall remain stayed," the bench said.
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While challenging the High Court order, dated June 24, 2021, in the Supreme Court, the Humane Foundation for People & Animal said that the High Court’s decision would lead to an increase in the menace of street dogs.
"A dog under human supervision and control and dependent on its human caretakers for all of its needs can be prevented from biting and attacking people and other animals by physical restraint, confinement to private property and suppressing aggressive tendencies with care and training. This is not the case with stray dogs, therefore feeding in societies, streets or at any public places is a direct risk to citizens," the NGO said.
The Delhi High Court in its guideline had stated that stray dogs have the right to food and citizens have the right to feed while observing care and caution that it does not cause nuisance or harassment.
It had further said that every dog is a territorial being and it has to be fed and tended to at places within their territory which is not frequented by the general public.
Any person having compassion for stray dogs can feed them at their private entrance or driveway of their house or any other place not shared with other residents but no one can restrict the other from feeding dogs, until and unless it is causing harm or harassment to them, it had said.
"Community dogs (stray/street dogs) have the right to food and citizens have the right to feed community dogs but in exercising this right, care and caution should be taken to ensure that it does not impinge upon the rights of others or cause any harm, hindrance, harassment and nuisance to other individuals or members of the society," the High Court had said.
The High Court also said that street dogs perform the role of community scavengers and control rodent population in a locality, thus preventing disease like leptospirosis. They also provide companionship to those who feed them act as their stress relievers, the High Court had noted.