New Delhi: Heeding a chorus of pleas from multiple animal rights activists and groups seeking permission to protect and maintain stray dogs in public spaces, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that those who feed and care for stray dogs will also have to bear tortious liability for any injury caused to the public by the animals. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N. V. Anjaria said that the right to protect stray dogs in public spaces cannot be divorced from the obligation to ensure that such actions do not result in harm to others, making it clear that rights and responsibilities go together.The bench observed, “While considerable emphasis has been placed
“Any framework must necessarily be accompanied by clearly defined principles of accountability. The assertion of rights or interests in favour of such animals cannot operate in isolation, divorced from the corresponding responsibility to safeguard human life and safety.” Supreme Court of India On the protection, feeding, and continued presence of community dogs in public and institutional spaces, a pertinent question arises as to whether such individuals, organisations, and associations would be willing to assume corresponding legal responsibility for the consequences arising therefrom.
Satinder Duggal
