Those who feed stray dogs can be held liable if canines attack people, says Top Court

The Supreme Court has observed that those that feed stray dogs might be held liable if the canines attack people. The apex court also said that such people should be made to blame for vaccination of stray dogs.

The court further said that the stray dog feeders should even be vulnerable to bear the price for the treatment if strays bite people. The court also emphasised on a desire to search out an answer to the stray dogs' menace.

The court's observation comes while hearing a petition regarding stray dogs menace in Kerala. The matter is being heard by a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and J.K. Maheshwari.

While making an oral observation, Justice Khanna said he's also a dog lover and suggested that folks who feed stray dogs could possibly keep variety or marking on the dog they feed.

"These dog feeders are to blame for vaccination and bearing the price if an individual is attacked," said justice Khanna. The court said that there's a necessity to keep up a balance between people that feed stray dogs and protecting innocent those who are being attacked by stray canines.

The bench also observed that we'd like to just accept there's a controversy of stray dogs. "Dogs may sometimes becomes aggressive thanks to lack of food or they will get an infection. The rabies infected dogs can be put in a very care centre by authorities concerned," the court observed.

Advocate VK Biju appearing for the Kerala government told the apex court that eight people have died since August, He submitted before the court that schoolchildren and girls are being attacked by aggressive dogs at public places. The advocate also highlighted the recent death of a 12-year-old victim in Kerala.

Biju cited 2015 Kerala judicature order to cull the stray dogs in keeping with local body laws. The court has fixed September 28 because the next date of hearing within the case.