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In a plea filed in connection with the death of 49 dogs at IIT madras Campus, Madras High Court on Friday said that it is not the IIT's core business to devote its resources or energy towards maintaining pets that residents in the city may abandon at the IIT gates.

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D.Audikesavalu held that the State should also ensure that IIT does not become a dumping ground for abandoned dogs and some measures in such regard need to be put in place.

One organization namely, People For Cattle In India, brought to court’s attention the plight of the dogs that abound in the IIT campus in the city.

Advocate Srinithi, appearing on behalf of the organisation informed the court that 49 dogs have recently died due to various reasons at the IIT campus. He further complained about the health of 14 dogs at the campus being delicate and said that these dogs require special attention.

To this, Court directed that it will be open to the organisation, along with any appropriate agency of the State monitoring the same, to remove the sick dogs and other dogs needing immediate care to any State-run veterinary hospital or facility. “Even private persons may be permitted to provide appropriate care,” Court added.

Earlier, regarding the petitioner organisation’s complaints, inspections were done by various agencies, including the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Greater Chennai Corporation and the Animal Husbandry Department of the State.

Accordingly, the Animal Welfare Board filed papers including a report pursuant to continual visits before the court on Friday.

Court noted that according to such report, IIT has done its best for the dogs within its campus.

Further, IIT also submitted before the court that every dog on its campus is micro-chipped and three separate enclosures have been provided since some of the dogs are aggressive and impede movement within the campus and sometimes tend to threaten students.

Therefore, court said that it is necessary that the number of dogs at the IIT campus is reduced from its present level of about 100, as the IIT claims or about 120 as the State agencies suggest.

“There could be a few dogs and, given the size of the campus and dogs being traditionally present, the number may be reduced closer to 50, since there are deer and black bucks also on the campus,” Court added.

Court concluded that the petitioner organisation being interested in animals and their ethical treatment, along with representatives of the State authorities, including the Corporation, Animal Husbandry Department and the Animal Welfare Board of India, should decide on a course of action that may be followed both to ensure that IIT is rid of the menace of too many dogs on its campus and the ultimate treatment of the dogs taken from the campus, whether by way of adoption or placement at some centres run by NGOs or the like.

Lastly, court directed that the new arrivals at the IIT may be handed over to the Corporation and the Corporation should deal with such dogs in an ethical and humane manner.

Matter has been listed to be next heard on November 11, 2021.

Case Title: People For Cattle In India, Vs. The Chairman, And Another.