The Meghalaya High Court has significantly escalated its involvement in tackling the escalating stray dog issue plaguing the state, issuing a directive for the implementation of extensive control measures spanning all districts.
In a pivotal judgment delivered yesterday, Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh expanded the purview of an existing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that had initially concentrated solely on the capital city of Shillong.
Responding to compelling arguments presented by the petitioner, Kaustav Paul, who appeared before the bench in person, the court unequivocally stated, “The scope and ambit of this writ shall extend throughout Meghalaya,” acknowledging the need for a unified statewide approach.
Mr. Paul had persuasively contended that restricting intervention to Shillong alone would be a futile exercise, underscoring the persistent failure to enforce the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, a comprehensive legal framework designed to manage the stray dog population.
The High Court has now mandated the swift constitution of a dedicated committee within a strict four-week timeframe, as explicitly outlined under Rule 4 of the aforementioned regulations. This crucial committee will be chaired ex-officio by the commissioner or chief of local authorities and will include vital representation from Public Health, Animal Welfare, the District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and various humanitarian organizations actively working on the ground.
The court order explicitly stipulated, “The state government shall take immediate steps not later than four weeks from date to form a Committee in terms of rule 4 of the said rules. Thereafter, the committee shall discharge its functions according to rule 5,” emphasizing the urgency and specific responsibilities entrusted to this newly formed body.
This decisive ruling follows earlier interventions by the same court that yielded limited progress within Shillong, where the Municipal Board established some shelter facilities but ultimately fell short of providing refuge for the entirety of the city’s stray dog population. The state government had previously extended temporary housing solutions under prior court orders.
Now, the onus falls upon the district commissioners, alongside the respective District Councils and local municipal authorities, to diligently implement the High Court’s directives within their individual jurisdictions. A comprehensive action-taken report detailing the steps undertaken is mandated to be submitted to the court when the case is scheduled for its next hearing on July 16, 2025.