Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has ordered the Shillong Municipal Board to submit a report on February 5, 2025, outlining the steps taken to control the street dog population.
The court also instructed the Board to work with the state government to set up a dedicated shelter for these animals.
This directive was issued by the division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on the matter.
The bench said, “We direct that immediate steps be taken in that direction by the Board with the assistance of the State government and the action taken be embodied in a report to be filed in this Court by 5th February, 2025.”
The court acknowledged the growing number of street dogs and the associated risks, including dog bites and rabies-related deaths.
The counsel for the Shillong Municipal Board states that the municipality has taken measures to vaccinate those dogs against the infection and sterilize them so that their number does not increase.
However, the board acknowledged that a shelter for these dogs is still lacking.
The High Court stated that the Municipal Board needs to acquire a shelter for street dogs with the state government’s assistance.
“While we appreciate this work being carried out by the Municipal Board, there is an absolute need for the Board to acquire a shelter where these street dogs can be kept,” the bench stated.
The court has directed the board to take immediate action and submit a report on the steps taken by February 5, 2025.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on February 10, 2025.
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On the issue of shifting the present zoo from Shillong, the bench has expressed satisfaction with the action taken by the state government.
