Stray dog menace: Chief secretaries of states/UTs to appear before SC on Monday

Chief secretaries of states and union territories, except those of West Bengal and Telangana, will appear before the Supreme Court on Monday for failing to file compliance affidavits regarding the steps taken by them to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.

A three-judge Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath had on October 27 directed them to appear before it on November 3 to explain why compliance affidavits were not filed in terms of its August 22 order.

It had noted that only the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and states of West Bengal and Telangana have filed their compliance affidavits following its August 22 order.

In its August 22 order, the top court had asked the states and UTs about the steps being taken to implement the ABC Rules.

The Bench – which also included Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria – had slammed the other states and UTs for not filing compliance affidavits regarding the steps taken by them to implement the ABC Rules.

The Supreme Court had on October 31 turned down Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s request to allow chief secretaries of states, except those of West Bengal and Telangana, to appear virtually before it on November 3 in the case.

“When we require them to come and file compliance affidavits, they are just sleeping over it. No respect for the order of the court… Then alright let them come,” a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta told the Solicitor General after he mentioned the matter before the Bench, which made it clear that the chief secretaries will have to appear physically before the court on November 3.

Mehta had submitted that instead of appearing physically, the chief secretaries could be allowed to appear before the top court virtually.

Earlier, the Bihar Chief Secretary had sought exemption from personal appearance in view of the upcoming state Assembly elections on November 6 and 11. But the Bench had declined his plea. “There is an Election Commission to take care. Don’t worry. Let the chief secretary come,” it had said.

India