The Gujarat government has admitted before the Gujarat High Court that several districts lack Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres, leaving gaps in district-wise data on stray dog sterilisation and vaccination. The admission came during a hearing on October 28.
The government submitted an affidavit in response to directions concerning measures taken to control stray dogs and cattle. The High Court sought details of sterilisation and vaccination drives, the vaccines being administered and the arrangements in place to manage the stray dog population.
Data for only 17 of 34 districts
The government had submitted data covering only 17 of Gujarat's 34 districts for the preceding six months. Figures for the remaining 17 districts were not available in the submission. The court proceedings follow a Supreme Court directive requiring periodic data on the measures taken by state authorities.
Advocate Medha Jani, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that information supplied by municipal authorities on dog sterilisation and vaccination had been presented before it. The petitioner argued the government should also explain the mechanism used to control the stray dog population, rather than limiting its response to sterilisation and vaccination figures.
Vaccines, manufacturers and side effects sought
The court also sought details of the vaccines administered, their manufacturers and whether they could cause adverse side effects. Explaining the gaps, the government said some districts did not have Animal Birth Control centres, making it difficult to compile district-wise sterilisation data.
The government cited Vadodara as an example, stating the city had substantial infrastructure for sterilisation and that dogs from surrounding districts had been taken there for the procedures. As a result, some districts recorded zero sterilisation despite dogs from those areas having undergone the procedure elsewhere, the government explained.
Court questions zero figures, seeks remaining data
The High Court questioned whether the state intended to present zero figures for certain districts before the Supreme Court when sterilisation had, according to the government, been carried out across the state. The government also told the court that inspections had been conducted at 79,150 offices and institutions across Gujarat, including schools, Anganwadis, hospitals, bus depots and Gram Panchayat offices.
According to the government's submission, regular inspections were being carried out, the stray dog population had not increased following vaccination and sterilisation drives, and 114 educational institutions had been made completely free of dogs. The government sought additional time to compile the missing information, and the High Court scheduled the next hearing for next week.
