The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court recently directed authorities to levy a fine of not more than 200 on residents who feed stray dogs on streets and in public areas in order to combat the threat posed by these animals.

A division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and Anil Pansare stated that despite the authorities’ efforts, the stray dog problem in Nagpur city has gotten worse because some residents behave irresponsibly and feed them on the streets.

It was advised that these residents adopt the dogs, bring them into their homes, and provide for their needs. According to the bench, if these so-called “friends of stray dogs” are truly concerned about the welfare and protection of the strays, they must adopt the strays, take them home, or at the very least, place them in good dog shelter homes, and pay all costs associated with their registration with municipal authorities as well as for their upkeep, medical care, and vaccination.

Therefore, the bench issued a broad directive prohibiting citizens and residents of Nagpur and the territories nearby from feeding stray dogs in public locations such as parks and gardens. The Court further pointed out that stray dogs may be destroyed under Section 44 of the Maharashtra Police Act. It required that authorities consider carrying it out, but not to the point of destroying them rather than merely capturing them.

CASE: Vijay Shankarrao Talewar vs State of Maharashtra