Staying its earlier directions to the Delhi government and municipal corporations of Noida and Gurugram to capture all street dogs, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered their release after vaccination and deworming in the same area from where they are picked up, reported Live Law.

However, the court said that dogs displaying aggressive behaviour or those infected with rabies should not be released.

A three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria also prohibited public feeding of stray dogs, stating that dedicated feeding spaces must be created for the purpose.

The bench ordered all dog shelters to be equipped with surveillance cameras, adequate staff, food and medical care.

Additionally, it directed authorities to set up a helpline within a week for reporting incidents of dog bites. If a case is reported, the dog should be captured within four hours, the court held.

It also said that data on rabies vaccinations and treatment should be published every month.

The bench cautioned that animal rights activists who obstruct municipal authorities from capturing stray dogs as per the Animal Birth Control Rules would be held in contempt of court, Live Law reported.

Moreover, the court expanded the scope of the case beyond the National Capital Region and said the interim directions will be applicable across the country until a national policy is created on the matter.

On August 14, the bench had reserved its order on pleas challenging the directions issued earlier by a two-judge bench.

The three-judge bench had verbally observed that the problems related to the street dog population in Delhi are because of the inaction of local authorities.

The case was listed to be heard by the three-judge bench after some lawyers told Chief Justice BR Gavai that the directions issued on August 11 conflicted with previous orders of other benches.

On August 11, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed authorities to immediately begin relocating street dogs, build shelters for 5,000 to 6,000 animals within six weeks and report back within eight weeks.

The court took up the matter on July 28 after reports of dog bites leading to rabies in the National Capital Region.

It ordered that dogs be picked up from all areas, particularly vulnerable parts of the city. It also allowed the authorities to use force when necessary to capture the dogs.

The shelters, the court said, must have enough personnel to sterilise and immunise the dogs, who should not be released into public places.

“If any individual or organisation comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance,” the bench had said at the time.

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