NEW DELHI, 14 AUG

The whole problem of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR is because of "inaction" of local authorities, the Supreme Court said on Thursday while reserving its order on the interim prayer seeking a stay on the 11 August directions passed by the apex court.

A two-judge bench of the top court had on 11 August directed authorities in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) to start collecting stray dogs from all localities "at the earliest" and relocate the animals to dog shelters.

While hearing the matter on Thursday, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath said, "The whole problem is because of the inaction of local authorities".

The bench, also comprising Justices Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria, said everyone who has moved the apex court and filed an intervention will have to take on their responsibility.

During the hearing, the Delhi government said that children are dying due to dog bites causing rabies, and the issue of stray dogs needs to be resolved and not contested.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, said there were over 37 lakh reported dog bites in a year in the country.

"Nobody is an animal hater," Mehta told the bench.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for an NGO which looks after dogs, said the situation was "very serious" and the matter needed to be argued in depth.

Sibal sought a stay on some of the directions passed by the apex court on 11 August, including the directions to the authorities to start picking up stray dogs from all localities in Delhi-NCR "at the earliest" and relocate the animals to dog shelters.

On 11 August, the apex court had directed the authorities to immediately create dog shelters or pounds and report to it about the creation of such infrastructure within eight weeks.

It had said stray dogs would be detained in shelters and not be released on streets, colonies or public places.

The top court had passed a slew of directions on 11 August while hearing a suo motu case initiated on 28 July over stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.