DB directs J&K, Ladakh UTs to file detailed updated status reports

In a Public Interest Litigation highlighting stray dog menace, a Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice MA Chowdhary has directed J&K and Ladakh Union Territories to file detailed updated status reports.
When PIL came-up for hearing, Division Bench observed, “counsel appearing for UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh shall file detailed updated reports as regards implementation of the various requirements mentioned in notification dated 10.03.2023 whereby the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying notified Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (ABC Rules, 2023”).
“It has been submitted by Devinder Kour, on behalf of Save Animal Value Environment (SAVE) that the authorities have not taken appropriate steps in terms of the notified Rules. The State level Monitoring Committee which is required to sit regularly is not properly monitoring the implementation of the Rules though the same were notified in the month of March, 2023”, the High Court observed, adding “it has been further submitted that lack of general awareness regarding dog bite incidents needs to be looked into and preventive measures would be required to be taken up by the administration for spreading awareness on the issues of dog bites”.
“It is also urged that anti rabies vaccines which are antidotes for dog bites are not readily available and the authorities are differentiating into bites by pet dogs and stray dogs which has prevented effective measures to be taken with regard to stray dog bites. In this regard, SAVE has referred to a copy of policy made by the Government of UP in which comprehensive measures have been adopted for implementation of the rules”, the DB said and directed the authorities of both Union Territories to consider the same.