Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the state government to immediately establish Animal Birth Control (ABC) committees in the districts where these crucial panels are yet to be formed.
The directive was issued during the ongoing hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Kaustav Paul, which addresses the crucial issue of controlling and managing stray dog populations across Meghalaya.
The court was informed that the Meghalaya government had constituted ABC committees in most districts, except South Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice I P Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, while passing the order on Tuesday, said, “We direct listing of this public interest litigation once again on August 6, 2025, to receive further action taken report, including constitution of committees for the said two districts (South Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills).”
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The objective of setting up these committees is to implement the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, which aim to control the stray dog population through humane measures such as capturing, treating, vaccinating, sterilising, and rehabilitating the animals in dog centres.
