As the Supreme Court in a significant order instructed civic bodies in Delhi-NCR to round up stray dogs, sterilise them, and move them permanently to shelters, noting that the order should be enforced strictly to make the capital safe, it is the right time for the J&K government to emulate the decision as stray dog menace is troubling the communities in this part of the country also.
It is advisable that the government should come up with a placebo before someone approaches court or the court itself takes suo-motto cognizance in the matter as in the case of Delhi-NCR where the Supreme Court took the initiative in making the region safe for the dwellers.
Reportedly, the Apex Court has made it clear that there should be no compromise on the drive and warned that if any individual or organisation comes in the way of the forces picking up stray dogs, strict action will be taken for creating bottlenecks. The government in J&K should follow the pursuit and ensure that members of the canine family remain under control and people should have a sigh of relief as presently there are many cities in J&K facing the brunt of stray dog menace with brigades of dogs threatening people moving out at odd hours or for morning or evening walks. It is pertinent to mention that Jammu and Kashmir is also grappling with the problem of stray dogs as cases of dog bites are surging with each passing year.
The UT recorded a total of 22,110 dog bite cases in 2022, which increased to 34,664 in 2023. In 2024, all records were broken with the cases of dog bites crossing the 50,000-mark as reportedly 51,027 cases were registered. It is likely that the problem will continue to hover as reportedly in January 2025 only, 4,824 cases of dog bites were recorded in the region. Looking at the alarming figures, it has become necessary that the government in J&K should not wait any further and take similar measures as the Delhi government is bound to take to comply with the SC ruling.
The Supreme Court has made it clear that concerned authorities should look into how this will be done to make the capital city free of stray dogs. It should be the duty of governments all across the country to ensure that no one should fall prey to stray dogs, whose presence galore whether it is Delhi, J&K or any other state across the country.
