The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Director of Animal Husbandry to submit a detailed report on measures to control stray dogs after consulting the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary.The order was issued while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Balaji, who highlighted the increasing stray dog menace in Madurai. He pointed out that these dogs often run across roads, causing accidents, and many people have suffered from rabies due to dog bites.
He urged the court to direct the Madurai Corporation to take action to control the stray dog population.The case was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice K.R. Sriram and Justice V. Lakshminarayanan.
The Madurai Corporation informed the court that killing stray dogs is not permitted under the law. However, sterilization centers are operational in Sellur and Vellakkal, and around 500 stray dogs are sterilized every month. A survey to count stray dogs in Madurai will begin in early March, with college students volunteering for the task. The Corporation also stated that if the state government allocates additional funds, they could establish more sterilization centers, recruit veterinarians, and procure necessary equipment.
The Tamil Nadu government reported that âč9 crore was allocated in the 2023-24 financial year to control the stray dog population.
The judges suggested that the Corporation could seek assistance from resident welfare associations to help manage stray dogs. They expressed dissatisfaction with the Animal Husbandry Department’s delay in submitting a response and directed the Director of Animal Husbandry to consult with the Chief Secretary and file a report on stray dog control measures by March 7.