(Adnkronos) – The Indian Supreme Court is reconsidering. And it backtracks after ordering the authorities of New Delhi and its suburbs to capture tens of thousands of stray dogs that ‘live’ here and build kennels for their transfer within eight weeks. A provision that had opened the debate, between safety and love for animals, and aroused considerable controversy in the Asian giant.
Now, establishes the verdict reported by the Times of India, the strays will have to be ‘intercepted’ and released in the same areas where they were taken after vaccinations and sterilization, provided they are not suspected of having rabies and do not show aggressive behavior. The Court has however forbidden feeding stray dogs in public spaces, imposing the setting up of “dedicated areas”.
In New Delhi, a megalopolis with 30 million people, there are as many as one million stray dogs. The Supreme Court’s new position is welcomed. “Balanced, structured”, defined Alokparna Sengupta of Humane World for Animals India, quoted by the BBC. But the battle continues because – she remarked – a serious criterion is needed, on a scientific basis, to establish whether a dog is “aggressive”. The goal is to avoid improper use of the Court’s ruling. Rahul Gandhi is also happy about the Supreme Court’s reversal. It is, he commented on X, “a step towards a balance between animal welfare and public safety”.
