Feeding stray dogs is making them territorial, leading to attacks on people: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response of the Delhi government, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Police on a plea filed by a man seeking compensation of ₹50 lakh after his 18-month-old daughter was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs [Rahul Kanaujiya v Govt of NCT of Delhi & Ors]..Justice Subramonium Prasad said that the authorities must file their responses in 10 days explaining what steps have been taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur.The Court also expressed concerns regarding people feeding stray dogs thereby making them territorial and causing them to attack people who enter their territory.“The problem is that there are people coming in vans and feeding the dogs. That’s why these dogs are not going anywhere and that is why they have become too territorial and that is why they attack anyone who comes there. They are becoming a menace for pedestrians and, therefore, feeding stray dogs is something people need to look at... Feeding stray may be good but you are taking away their capacity to go and find food. They have nothing left to do,” Justice Prasad remarked.He said that the case will be heard on Wednesday (March 13) and ordered the authorities to preserve the CCTV footage. .The plea was filed by one Rahul Kanaujiya arguing that he is a resident of Dhobi Ghat, Tuglak Lane and his daughter Divanshi Kanaujiya was attacked, dragged to a secluded place and mauled by a pack of violent and aggressive dogs.He argued that despite directions from court and guidelines issued by government and civic authorities, the menace of stray animals, particularly the mad, aggressive and violent dogs is prevalent in the city.Kanaujiya said that he belongs to economically marginalised society and even though he, along with several other resident of his locality have raised the concerns about dog menace, their plea was ignored and violent and aggressive dogs have been deliberately left around the area where he resides.He demanded that the authorities must implement the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and capture and treat the violent and ferocious dogs.The plea also sought directions to Delhi Police to investigate the incident of his daughter’s death and conduct proper investigation against the Officers-in-Charge responsible for capture and treatment of dogs.