Stray dog issue in Meghalaya ‘peculiar’, High Court urges SC to keep PIL

Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has formally requested the Supreme Court of India to allow it to retain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the menace of stray dogs in the state, citing the "peculiar and distinctive" nature of the issue in Meghalaya.

The plea comes amid a broader directive from the Supreme Court ordering the transfer of similar PILs related to stray dog management from various high courts to the apex court for consolidated consideration.

In its order dated 30 August, a division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh observed that, while the stray dog issue is common across many states, the situation in Meghalaya is uniquely serious due to the unusually aggressive behaviour of stray dogs in the region.

"We feel that it is our duty to point out that in this state there is a peculiarly distinctive menace posed by stray dogs. We have been specifically told that quite a number of stray dogs are biter dogs and very vicious in nature," the bench noted.

“They attack persons suddenly in roads, streets, and other public places, at times causing grave injury,” the court stated.

As part of the ongoing PIL, the court had earlier directed public authorities to seize such dogs, inoculate and medically attend to them, and keep them under observation in shelters. The court emphasised that releasing these animals back into public spaces without ensuring they no longer pose a threat would endanger public safety.

“In those circumstances, we direct the Registrar General of this Court to make a formal application before the Supreme Court… We strongly recommend that a public interest litigation of this character and nature be retained in this court because of its peculiar and distinctive feature,” the order concluded.