ANIMAL LAWS

Catching and removing street dogs, or harming, killing them is in violation of the judgment of the Delhi High Court given on 16 December, 1992 in Smt. Maneka Gandhi vs. MCD/NDMC Suit No. 1246/92. The court has said that street dogs are a part of the city and just being classed as a stray dog does not mean it should be killed. The court had accepted that sterilization and vaccination of dogs is the only scientific and humane solution of the so-called problem of street dogs and directed the MCD / NDMC to follow the same.

The court had observed that ‘It needs no great learning to appreciate that dogs or animals are not encroachers on earth and there is no question of eliminating them….it is the duty of every citizen to have compassion to animals including dogs…. All state functionaries such as MCD/NDMC cannot ignore this obligation’.

Harming, killing or subjecting any animal to pain and suffering is an offence under Section 11 of the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA act), 1960, and Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The punishment for these crimes includes a fine and an imprisonment of upto 5 years or both.

We would like you to please inform the residents of your area regarding the sterilization and vaccination program, the laws, the Delhi Court judgment on dogs and also MCD’s commitment in this regard. Please request the residents not to indulge in activities violating the Court judgment and the laws (PCA Act and IPC) and help the MCD, NGOs and individuals engaged in the sterilization and vaccination of dogs of the colony. This is the only way that will create a safe and healthy environment for both humans and animals.