The Supreme Court of India, on Friday, expressed skepticism towards the portrayal of stray dogs as non-threatening companions in public spaces, stating that the picture painted by animal rights activists is at odds with the "ground realities." The observation came during a hearing on pleas seeking a rollback of the court's earlier order to keep premises of public institutions like hospitals and colleges free of stray canines.
Activists' Plea and the Court's Counter
Advocates representing animal rights activists argued before a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria that stray dogs do not inherently pose a threat to humans and that both can coexist peacefully. In their submission, they cited viral instances, including a picture of a dog walking with monks in the US and a case where a dog reportedly rescued a toddler.
However, the bench was quick to highlight the contrasting narrative presented by numerous dog bite incidents. "We will tell you the reality at the end of the arguments," the bench remarked, indicating its awareness of the complexities and public safety concerns involved in the issue.
NGO Calls for Involvement of Domain Experts
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the NGO 'All Creatures Great and Small', urged the court to involve domain experts in the deliberation process. He drew a parallel to the recent Aravali case, where reconsideration was sought because a committee predominantly comprised generalist bureaucrats instead of specialists.
"While our amicus is great, the concept of amici are basically law advisers. They are not domain experts," Singhvi submitted. He emphasized that involving such experts would significantly improve the quality and efficacy of the court's final order on the sensitive matter.
Extended Hearings and Future Course
The Supreme Court has assured that it will hear all parties who file applications in the matter. The hearing has been extensive, spanning over six and a half hours across the past three days, during which the views of approximately 20 individuals and non-governmental organizations were heard.
The proceedings in this significant case, which balances animal welfare with public health and safety concerns, are scheduled to resume on Tuesday. The court's final decision is keenly awaited by various stakeholders across the country.
