Delhi High Court issues notice to Central Govt on plea for anti-rabies vaccination, birth-control of animals
Sangeeta Dogra, a wildlife activist, filed the petition, alleging that the AWBI willfully and deliberately failed to study the dog population and relevant anthropological aspects that serve to establish background information for the planning and implementation of dog population management schemes and/or control of zoonotic diseases transmitted between humans and dogs.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Central government and its authorities on a plea seeking directions for anti-rabies vaccination, birth control of animals, and supervision of animals’ health and public safety, reports ANI.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad sought a response from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), and other authorities and listed the matter for a detailed hearing on November 9.
Sangeeta Dogra, a wildlife activist, filed the petition, alleging that the AWBI willfully and deliberately failed to study the dog population and relevant anthropological aspects that serve to establish background information for the planning and implementation of dog population management schemes and/or control of zoonotic diseases transmitted between humans and dogs.
The plea further stated that AWBI's claims of establishing the State Animal Welfare Board fall flat in the absence of the data needed for the implementation of the programs, including cost and benefit estimates. The information is needed for a questionnaire survey, medical and surgical supplies, and for making plans for and judging the feasibility of specific control operations, it stated.
It also claimed that the AWBI failed to control measures such as the use of drugs or vaccines, surgical sterilization, visually marking treated individuals, and maintaining data.
“Despite having 3000+ NGOs and their representatives, AWBI has failed to innovate parameters and techniques for Dog Ambulance, Dog Population Structure, Rate of Reproduction, Dog Keeping Practice, and useful service renders of Habitat Structure of Dogs Near Human Population, Owned Dog Population, Reasons for Keeping Dogs, Dog Keeping Practice, and Health Disease Mortality Rates,” the plea read.
The plea also sought directions to be given to AWBI to direct NGOs recognized by them to create a dog population database street by street and to register dogs with local/civic bodies.
Additionally, the petition sought that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) conduct a special audit of funds sanctioned as grants and tenders issued to NGOs/State Animal Welfare Boards for the Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies vaccination programme sanctioned to AWBI and its 3000+ NGO from 2009 to 2022.