Critically examine the Supreme Court’s approach to holding States and individual feeders accountable for dog-bite incidents. Evaluate the effectiveness of ABC Rules, 2023, in ensur

GS2 Judiciary
Critically examine the Supreme Court’s approach to holding States and individual feeders accountable for dog-bite incidents. Evaluate the effectiveness of ABC Rules, 2023, in ensuring public safety and animal welfare.

Examine

  • 10 marks
  • 8 min
  • 150 words
  • Medium

The Hindu

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Context

  • Dog-bite incidents pose public health risks and ethical challenges.
  • Supreme Court has emphasized accountability of States, municipal authorities, and individuals.

Judicial Approach

  • State and Municipal Accountability: Courts, e.g., Animal Welfare Board of India vs. MCD, mandate vaccination, sterilization, and awareness programs.
  • Individual Responsibility: Persons feeding or maintaining dogs in public spaces must adopt preventive measures and report incidents.
  • Emphasis on balancing public safety with animal welfare.

ABC Rules, 2023 – Key Features

  • Institutionalize sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs.
  • Require structured programs by municipalities and reporting to public health departments.
  • Ensure animal welfare while reducing human health risks.

Challenges

  • Uneven implementation across States.
  • Limited veterinary and infrastructure capacity.
  • Conflicts between communities feeding dogs and safety mandates.
  • Data shows dog-bite fatalities concentrated in poorly monitored urban areas.

Policy Measures / Way Forward

  • Strengthen municipal animal control units and capacity building.
  • Implement robust monitoring, reporting, and grievance redressal mechanisms.
  • Encourage community participation and awareness campaigns.
  • Integrate One Health approaches to harmonize human safety with ethical treatment of animals.