Stray dog case gets amicus

NEW DELHI: Alarmed at the growing menace of stray dogs in the capital, the Delhi high court has decided to look into the matter.
Earlier this week, Justice Manmohan appointed advocate R K Saini as amicus curiae in the case. HC is hearing a plea filed by the mother of an infant who died after being mauled by a pack of strays in 2013. Broadening the scope of intervention, Justice Manmohan asked for the cooperation of all the corporations to cooperate while supplying case related documents.
HC noted that the facts presented by the child's family disclosed "a rather alarming state" and asked the corporation to file an affidavit underlining steps taken to combat the problem of stray dogs. HC has posted the matter for hearing on January 15.
The court had, on the last hearing, asked North Corporation to submit the number of dog bites in Delhi in 2013 as well as the action taken regarding sick stray dogs.
It also asked the corporation to place on record details of dog shelters that it maintains as well as the facilities it has for treatment of diseased dogs.
While the corporation is yet to submit the figures, the petitioner, Geeta Devi had said, filed a six page affidavit that prompted HC to rope in an amicus. Devi in her reply filed in court said, "It is safely presumed there were around 40,000 dog-bites in Delhi in 2013 or more."