Six-year-old girl dies in Delhi due to rabies; Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of stray dog menace
PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday took immediate notice of the increasing number of stray dog attacks and their deadly consequences, deeming the situation “alarming and disturbing.” This action followed a media report in 'The Times of India', which highlighted the tragic death of a six-year-old girl in Delhi after she contracted rabies from a stray dog bite.
The girl, Chavi Sharma, was attacked by a rabid dog on June 30 in the Pooth Kalan area of Delhi. Despite receiving initial treatment, she tragically passed away on July 26, underscoring the dangers of stray dog bites and inadequate post-bite care. The report also revealed hundreds of similar incidents across the country, with infants and senior citizens particularly vulnerable to rabies, a deadly disease.
In response, a Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan decided to initiate proceedings on their own motion (suo motu). They ordered that the matter be brought before Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai for further directions. The court emphasised the growing severity of the problem, citing not just the fatality, but also the increasing number of dog bites leading to rabies infections.
This move follows earlier remarks by another Supreme Court Bench in July, which had addressed the issue of stray dog feeding and the need for public safety. During hearings about a petition seeking designated spots for feeding stray dogs in Noida, Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta had expressed concern about the threat stray dogs pose to public safety. They remarked that feeding stray dogs in public spaces could endanger people, especially cyclists and joggers in parks and isolated areas.
The ongoing legal debate centres around Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. This rule assigns the responsibility for arranging community dog feeding to the local authorities and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), while also ensuring safeguards for human safety. Though the rule aims to balance animal welfare and human protection, its implementation has faced resistance from both civic bodies and residents.
- With inputs from agencies
