Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 13 : Maharashtra Samajwadi Party president Abu Asim Azmi on Wednesday backed the Supreme Court's order to relocate stray dogs, stating that the decision was "very correct" as dog bites often lead to serious medical treatment, including 14 injections.
"This decision is very correct... People with pet dogs often find their dogs biting people on the road. People love dogs and often carry them in their cars. When a dog bites, 14 injections are needed... However, when we bring a goat into our house, they become very sad, even though the goat never bites..." Azmi told ANI.
Earlier in the day, Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai stated that he would examine the ongoing issue related to the relocation of the dogs after an advocate mentioned the matter and said that different benches of the Supreme Court had issued conflicting directions.
The matter relating to stray dogs was mentioned before a bench headed by the CJI for urgent listing, to which the CJI said, "I will look into this."
Advocate Nanita Sharma said two benches of the apex court have passed different orders on the stray dogs issue.
"This is with regard to the community dogs issue... There is an earlier judgment of this court, of a bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol, which says there cannot be indiscriminate killing of canines and that compassion for all living beings has to be there," the lawyer said.
Sharma was referring to the recent order passed by a bench headed by Justice JB Pardiwala, where the court had ordered relocation of the stray dogs in Delhi to dog shelters and another order passed by a Justice JK Maheshwari-led bench in May 2024, whereby the petitions relating to the stray dog issue were relegated to the respective High Courts.
Justice Maheshwari had said, "Under all circumstances, there cannot be any indiscriminate killings of canines and the authorities have to take action in terms of the mandate and spirit of the prevalent legislation(s) in place".
Sharma today mentioned the petition filed by an organisation named Conference for Human Rights (India), challenging a Delhi High Court's order in its PIL seeking directions for sterilisation and vaccination of community dogs in Delhi as per the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules.