The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Court seeks report on stray dog menace

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 12, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Court seeks report on stray dog menace

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JULY 11. The Madras High Court has directed the Municipal Secretary, Municipal Corporation Commissioners and Municipality Chairpersons of all grades to file affidavits on stray dog menace in their jurisdiction, besides steps taken to regulate their movement.

Giving a month to file a detailed report, the First Bench, comprising the Chief Justice, B. Subhashan Reddy, and Justice Prabha Sridevan, laid down a five-point charter of interrogatories.

The directives were in response to a public interest litigation petition filed by the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority (TNSLSA), based on media reports on stray dog menace and poor drainage maintenance works at Nanganallur here. Expanding the scope of the PIL to the entire State, they said, "This petition should address comprehensively the issue of stray dog menace. Hence, we pose the interrogatories."

The judges wanted details on the number of stray dogs in their jurisdiction and steps taken by the local body authorities to safeguard the interests of pedestrians as also neighbours of pet dog owners. A questionnaire sought statistics on the number of clinics treating dog bites in the State and data on deaths caused by dog bites. Making it clear that the interrogatories should be answered in the form of sworn affidavits, the First Bench recorded the Government advocate's undertaking that the order would be communicated to all concerned through the Secretariat.

Media reports said Nanganallur residents faced a serious threat from stray dogs. An office-bearer of a residents' welfare association died of dog bite. Another report highlighted open drains in the area, resulting in increased mosquito menace.

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