New Delhi, May 25
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to urgently hear a plea alleging that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann misrepresented a recent court ruling on stray dogs. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said that remarks made by a chief minister did not warrant any change in the court’s order.
The petitioner claimed Mann had posted on social media that the Supreme Court had given authorities a “free hand” to kill stray dogs following its May 19 judgment. The lawyer also alleged that dogs were being killed after the ruling.
The bench declined to intervene, advising the petitioner to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court instead.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court allowed the euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill, dangerous and aggressive stray dogs, saying public safety and the protection of human life must take priority. The court also directed states and union territories to strengthen infrastructure for managing stray animals and asked all high courts to monitor compliance with earlier directives on the issue.
