SC Refuses to entertain plea over Punjab CM’s statement on elimination of stray dogs

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea which took objection to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s statement on elimination of stray dogs. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked the petitioner to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The Supreme Court had on May 19 ordered that rabid, incurably ill or dangerous/aggressive dogs can be euthanised by proper authorities to curb threat to human life and safety, subject to assessment by qualified veterinary experts and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and other laws.

Pursuant to that, the Punjab CM had tweeted that the State will launch a campaign to eliminate dangerous stray dogs since Supreme Court has given a go ahead. “Following the Honourable Supreme Court’s decision, the Punjab government will launch a massive campaign starting tomorrow to eliminate stray and killer dogs that endanger the lives of children and pedestrians..Thanks to the Supreme Court,” the CM said.

The petitioner today took objection to the same. “Punjab CM has tweeted that Supreme Court has given free hand to kill all the dogs,” he said. “Go the Punjab High Court. If the CM makes a statement, do we change our order? Strict compliance of the order is to be done by the High Courts. We told you the matter is assigned to the High Court. Go and make a request to the High Court,” the Bench said.

“He (CM) says thanks to Supreme Court,” the counsel pointed out. “Very well, next case. You are free to go and file there. We are not entertaining your mention at all,” the top court made it clear.