Delhi civic bodies sterilise, vaccinate
The MCD and NDMC told the Delhi High Court they have held multiple camps over three months to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs in Anand Vihar and around
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have conducted a series of camps to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs near key judicial areas. The civic bodies reported their actions to the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, following judicial orders aimed at managing the street dog population and preventing rabies.
MCD counsel Manu Chaturvedi informed a bench of Justices Dinesh Mehta and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta that four specific camps were held in the Anand Vihar ward. With help from dog feeders and court-appointed adviser Gauri Maulekhi, the operations handled 43 dogs.
Camp Details and Compliance
The camps were organised on specific dates in August and September. The MCD stated the activities were conducted "after giving due publicity" and met with public cooperation, facing no resistance. Chaturvedi said the camps would continue with the goal of declaring at least one ward free from rabies.
Counsel for the NDMC provided separate figures for its efforts around the Supreme Court and high court complexes. Its operations involved picking up a smaller number of dogs for sterilisation while vaccinating a much larger group.
| Agency | Activity | Number of Dogs | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCD | Sterilised, vaccinated, and released | 43 | Camps on Aug 21, 25, Sep 3, 7 |
| NDMC | Dogs picked up | 28 | Camps between July 24 and Aug 27 |
| NDMC | Dogs vaccinated | 615 | Camps between July 24 and Aug 27 |
The court took note of these submissions and directed both the MCD and NDMC to file comprehensive status reports by October 5, the next scheduled hearing.
Legal Context and Supreme Court Orders
This reporting occurred within a suo motu petition filed to monitor the implementation of Supreme Court guidelines on stray dog management. In a May 19 ruling, the top court refused to modify an earlier order directing the removal of stray dogs from institutional zones like schools, hospitals, and railway stations. It ruled that "even sterilised dogs cannot be released back into these areas."
The Supreme Court also dismissed pleas seeking a recall of this order. It held that the 2023 Animal Birth Control Rules do not grant any "absolute or unqualified entitlement" to return sterilised strays to sensitive public spaces. Following this, all high courts were directed to register suo motu proceedings to track compliance.
The Pilot Project and Future Plans
The current local efforts stem from a Delhi High Court order on August 3. That order launched a pilot project for stray dog sterilisation, directing the NDMC and MCD to set up camps in one ward each. The court had stressed the need for wide publicity, including prominent placards, to reassure residents the drive was solely for sterilisation and vaccination, not for capturing dogs or sending them to shelters.
Separately, the court has also directed the Delhi government to file its response to an action plan prepared by the court-appointed amicus. This plan aims to eliminate rabies in the city by 2030. The civic bodies' ongoing camps represent the operational beginning of this broader effort.
