New Delhi: Authorities across India must immediately remove stray dogs from the premises of educational institutions, hospitals, public sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations after sterilising and immunising them, as well as prevent their entry into these spaces, the Supreme Court ordered on Friday (November 7).A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria said that judicial intervention had become necessary in order to protect citizens’ right to life and safety in light of what they identified as a “disturbing increase in dog-bite incidents” on the premises of the aforementioned institutions.“The recurrence of such incidents, particularly within institutional spaces meant for learning, healing and recreation, reflects not only administrative apathy but also a systemic failure to secure these premises from preventable hazards,” the bench charged, before listing numerous news reports about dog bites occurring in these spaces.As part of a clutch of directions meant to remedy such incidents, the bench said that all states and Union territories must, through the relevant municipal and local authorities, identify all educational institutions, hospitals (including primary health centres), public sports complexes or stadiums, bus stands or depots, and railway stations in their jurisdiction within two weeks.“It shall be the responsibility of the jurisdictional municipal body/authority to forthwith remove every stray dog found within the premises” of these institutions, sterilise and vaccinate them, and move them to a designated shelter.These canines must not be released back to the places they were picked up from as doing so would “frustrate the very effect of the directions issued to liberate such institutional areas from the presence of stray dogs”.Those in charge of these institutions must also put up fences or boundary walls preferably within eight weeks in order to prevent strays from entering their premises, as well as appoint a ‘nodal officer’ who will be tasked with the upkeep of their property and ensuring that dogs do not enter and live there.Municipal and panchayat authorities are to conduct inspections at least once every three months to ensure that “stray dog habitats” do not exist within such institutions or ‘in their immediate vicinity’, failing which “responsibility shall be fixed upon” the concerned officials.All hospitals must mandatorily have anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins on hand to treat dog bite cases, the court also ordered.Additionally, the Union education ministry must direct “every school and educational institution” to hold awareness programmes to help students and staff with “preventive behaviour around animals, first-aid in case of bites and immediate reporting protocols”.The Animal Welfare Board of India too must draft standard operating procedures dealing with the prevention of dog bites and management of stray dogs within four weeks’ time.The chief secretaries of all states and Union territories must file compliance affidavits within eight weeks, the court ordered, adding to direct the Union government to follow the court’s decree in those institutions that are under its control.“Any reported non-compliance of any of the above directions shall be viewed very seriously and may invite penalties/consequences including but not limited to the initiation of suo [motu] contempt proceedings against the erring officials,” the court warned.Removal of stray cattleIn a separate part of its order, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a Rajasthan high court judgment and directed the states and Union territories as well as the National Highways Authority of India to remove stray cattle from all highways.“It is a matter of grave and continuing public concern that accidents caused by cattle and other stray animals on public roads and highways have become alarmingly frequent across the country,” the bench said. These are not isolated incidents but “symptomatic of a larger failure on the part of the administrative authorities entrusted with public safety”, it added.The court also directed the relevant authorities to identify those parts of highways where stray cattle are frequently found, round them up and shift them to shelters or impounds where they must be given food, water and veterinary care.They must also form ‘dedicated patrol teams’ to surveil highways and respond to incidents of stray cattle or other animals obstructing the road.Friday order adds caveat to bench’s August 22 directiveEarlier, on August 11, a Supreme Court bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan had ordered that all stray dogs in the National Capital Region be taken off the streets and moved to shelters in eight weeks’ time.Following uproar, Chief Justice B.R. Gavai transferred the matter – which was taken up suo motu after a number of incidents including the killing of a six-year-old girl by stray dogs in Delhi – to the bench of Justices Nath, Mehta and Anjaria.This bench modified the contentious order 11 days later so that stray dogs could be released to the places they were picked up from after being sterilised and immunised, unless they were rabid or displayed aggressive behaviour.Friday’s order, however, requires that stray dogs picked up from schools or colleges, medical centres, public sports facilities, bus stands and railway stations be moved to shelters.