Delhi High Court Orders Strict Compliance With ABC Rules For Street Dogs Ahead Of G20 Summit

The Delhi High Court has issued a directive to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to ensure the strict implementation of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (ABC Rules) in the capture and release of street dogs in preparation for the G20 Summit.

The Court's order, delivered by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula, mandates that "the Respondent authorities are directed to ensure strict compliance with all the provisions prescribed under the ABC Rules relating to the capture and release of street dogs."

This directive follows a public interest litigation (PIL) expressing concerns about the methods employed by the MCD when capturing and releasing street dogs during special events, such as Independence Day, Republic Day, and the recent G20 Summit.

The ABC Rules require that dogs be identified with numbered collars immediately upon capture to maintain proper records. These records are crucial for ensuring the dogs are released in the same locality from which they were captured.

The MCD assured the Court that it had already begun the process of releasing dogs captured in preparation for the G20 Summit, adhering strictly to the ABC Rules and with the support of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

Advocates Nirbhay Kumar, Nishant Mandal, Anshu Anand, and Shubham Srivastava represented the petitioner, while Advocate Simran Jyot Singh represented the MCD. The Delhi government was represented by Standing Counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi, along with Advocates Arun Panwar, Prashansa Sharma, Kartik Sharma, and Pradyumn Rao.

This order underscores the importance of upholding animal welfare standards even during special events and gatherings.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University