SC notice to Kerala govt on plea to euthanise extremely dangerous stray dogs in Kannur

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (June 21) issued a notice to Kerala government and sought a reply on a petition seeking permission to euthanise “suspected rabid” and “extremely dangerous” stray dogs in the Kannur district of the state.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Kannur district panchayat raising the issue of stray dog attacks. This plea was filed in the wake of the death of a 11-year-old differently abled boy after an alleged attack by stray dogs in the district this month.

A vacation bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice M M Sundresh issued the notice and directed the Kerala government to file a reply by July 7.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Kannur district panchayat raising the issue of stray dog attacks. The plea brought up the death of an 11-year-old differently abled boy in such an attack in the district this month as an example.

Also read: Kerala stray dog menace: Allow euthanizing rabid canines, govt urges SC

The matter was mentioned before the bench for an urgent hearing.

“On the oral request, the matter has been taken on board on the date fixed, that is July 12. Counter-affidavit to be filed by July 7,” the bench said.

The plea said, “It is pertinent to mention that 5,794 stray dogs attacks were reported in 2019, as many as 3,951 cases in 2020, 7,927 cases in 2021, 11,776 cases in 2022 and 6,276 cases up to June 19, 2023, in the Kannur district itself. It is further submitted that there are approximately 28,000 stray dogs in the limits of the applicant herein.”

It said the menace has continued despite every effort to control it.

Also read: Thick human population, poor pet culture feed Kerala’s stray dog menace

The 11-year-old boy was found grievously injured in a bush near his home on June 11. Nihal, who suffered from autism, was missing from 5 pm on Sunday. He was later found in a grievously injured state and was taken to a hospital where he died.

The Supreme Court is seized of a batch of petitions on issues relating to orders passed by various civic bodies on the culling of stray dogs that have become a menace, especially in Kerala and Mumbai.