Meghalaya High Court Asks Shillong Municipal Board To Construct Shelter For Stray Dogs In 30 Days

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday (February 10) directed the Shillong Municipal Board to ensure as far as possible that the construction of dog shelter home is completed within 30 days and the street dogs are provided shelter there. The division bench of the Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh passed the direction while hearing a PIL involving issues with regard to relocation of the zoo in Shillong and measures to deal with dog menace.Earlier, vide order dated November 27, 2024, the Court had directed the Shillong Municipal Board to file an action taken report with regard to the construction of a shelter to keep the street dogs. The Board filed an affidavit on February 5, stating that the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of the State government has a shelter for dogs and was approached by the Municipal Board to accommodate the animals captured by them.However, in response to a letter dated January 3, 2025, of the Board, the Director of the Department vide letter dated January 16, 2025, informed that the Board was given responsibility to provide a shelter and not the State and that the above facility was being used for animal birth control programme. “…it is very heartening to note that the Municipal Board soon thereafter invited tender for construction of a dog shelter home, has awarded the contract in favour of a party and that construction of the shelter has started which is expected to be completed within the next 30 days,” the Court said.Thus, the Court directed the Board to ensure as far as possible that the said construction is completed within the stipulated time. “In the meantime, the State through the Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department is directed to verify the authenticity of the Director's statement that shelter for street dogs cannot be provided at the shelter of the department and if it is possible to keep the street dogs there, shall cooperate with the Board so that pending start of operation of the Board's shelter, the street dogs captured by the Board are accommodated in the State's dog shelter,” the Court directed. It further directed the Municipal Board and the State to file short affidavits to indicate action taken in terms of the present order. The PIL is listed again on March 12. Case Title: Kaustav Paul v. State of Meghalaya & Ors. Case No.: PIL No. 4/2024Click Here To Read/Download Order

Meghalaya High Court Asks Shillong Municipal Board To Construct Shelter For Stray Dogs In 30 Days

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