Stray dogs becoming territorial: Delhi HC on stray feeding in case of 18-month child killed by strays

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court reasoned on Monday that instances of stray-dog attacks have increased in recent times due to regular stray feeding which has made the dogs territorial.

"The problem is people are coming in the vans and feeding the dogs. Because of that, dogs have become too territorial, and (therefore) they attack anybody. They are becoming a menace for the pedestrians," the Court observed.

It added, "Feeding strays may be good but you are taking away their capacity to go and find their own food. They have nothing else to do.”

Terming stray dogs a “menace for pedestrians”, the Delhi High Court issued notice to the Delhi government, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and the Delhi Police on a plea for Rs 50 lakh compensation in a case where an 18-month old child was allegedly mauled to death by strays.

The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad was hearing a plea filed by the father of the child in this regard.

The petitioner also pointed out that in the instant case, the dogs were being fed in a children's park, putting them at risk. He prayed for directions to the authorities to take immediate steps to remove stray dogs from elsewhere.

The girl child has been reported to have been playing outside her home in the Dhobhi Ghat area of the Tughlak Lane in Delhi, when four-five dogs attacked her, dragged her for several metres, before killing her.

Coming down on the authorities, the Court also sought a status report on the steps being taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur and directed for the CCTV footage of the relevant time to be preserved.

Petitioner Rahul Kanaujiya has alleged in his plea that it is due to the negligence on the part of NDMC, that his daughter was killed in this manner on February 24.

"It is the duty of the state to save and protect the lives of the people as per Article 21 of the Constitution. Such negligent and administrative lapse on the part of the NDMC has violated the fundamental rights of the deceased child and the petitioner, enshrined under Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution," the plea contended.

The matter will be heard further on March 13.