Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday issued a clarification on the government’s stray dog policy following widespread public outrage over his earlier announcement to “eliminate stray and killer dogs”.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said the Punjab Government would strictly follow the Supreme Court’s May 19 order on community dogs “in letter and spirit”.
Mann wrote: “As per the SC orders, we will remove stray dogs from all high-footfall public spaces so that children, senior citizens, and families can move freely without fearing for their safety. We will create and maintain an adequate number of dog shelters where these stray dogs can be cared for properly. We will take legally permissible measures, including euthanasia, in cases involving rabid, incurably ill, or demonstrably dangerous and aggressive dogs posing a threat to human life, strictly in accordance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the ABC Rules.”
The CM’s original statement on Thursday had triggered sharp criticism from animal lovers across the country, who accused him of misreading the apex court’s directions.
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria also waded into the controversy, stressing that the exercise must be carried out strictly under the Supreme Court’s guidelines. “It is going to be a long exercise. It doesn’t mean you can kill anyone; dogs are also living beings,” the Governor said.
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal questioned the Chief Minister. “CM Bhagwant Mann has gleefully ordered mass killing of street dogs in Punjab, misquoting the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court’s order nowhere allows this mass elimination of dogs. His statements are illegal, inhumane, and shameful,” she said.
The controversy erupted after Mann’s Thursday announcement, which many interpreted as a blanket drive against stray dogs. The Chief Minister’s Friday clarification appears to be a course correction aimed at addressing the concerns of animal welfare activists while assuring public safety in high-footfall areas.
