Dozens of people gathered in Gurgaon on Sunday evening to protest against the recent order of the Supreme Court directing removal of stray dogs from schools and hospitals.
People gathered at Galleria Market carrying posters reading ‘No Dog, No Votes’, ‘Strays Need Care, Not Cages’, ‘Our Planet, theirs too’, and ‘Priceless, not worthless – protect street animals’, ‘Karma barks louder than you think’.
Several youngsters also joined the protesters who took rounds of the market.
The protesters demanded that the order be taken back, and raised the slogans of “Awara nahi humara hain (Not strays, but ours)”, and “Mahadev ke baccho ko kaise maar sakte ho? (How can you kill the children of God?”, as they marched peacefully towards Millennium City Centre metro station.
“The order is absolutely inhumane, and not scientific. All animals deserve to be treated properly. Civic agencies are supposed to implement the Animal Birth Control Rules, but have not been able to. For the apathy of civic agencies, why should they (stray dogs) be sent to death pounds?” said Nikita Yadav, a commercial pilot and an animal rescuer and activist.
Sudhir Sachdeva (53), founder of Delhi-based Stand for Animals, which organised the demonstration and obtained the necessary police and civic permissions, told The Indian Express: “Our commitment to seeking justice for animals remains steadfast, and we plan to continue these demonstrations regularly until the honourable Supreme Court addresses our concerns. It is imperative that we unite to have this order reversed. They (dogs) place their trust and confidence in us, and it is crucial that we do not disappoint them.”
At least three policemen were present to monitor the protest.
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Earlier on November 10, hundreds of residents had gathered near Vyapar Kendra Market Gate 1 at Sushant Lok 1.
The Millenium City had on August 12 evening too seen a peaceful demonstration at the same location as Sunday to protest against a now-modified Supreme Court order directing community dogs be sent to and kept in shelters.
The apex court’s latest order, passed on November 7, directed all states and Union Territories to remove stray dogs from the premises of educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and depots, and railway stations, “to a designated shelter, after due sterilisation and vaccination in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules”.
The court also said that “the stray dogs so picked up shall not be released back to the same location from which they were picked up”.
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“The centres identified in NCR will not be sufficient. If correct measures towards vaccination and sterilisation are taken, rabies and overpopulation of stray dogs can be contained. But this order of removing them from the streets is not right, and not as per law (ABC rules).”
The stray dogs will be removed by the municipal bodies or authorities, according to the court order. It also asked the management of every educational institution, hospital, sports complex, bus stand and railway stations “identified under direction” to “designate a nodal officer responsible for the upkeep and cleanliness of the premises and for ensuring that the stray dogs do not enter or inhabit the campus”.
Earlier directions to municipal authorities on creation of dog shelters and pounds remain in effect.
The top court also reiterated that “no individual or organisation shall cause any hindrance or obstruction” to authorities in implementing its directions.
