The Supreme Court on Friday issued a sweeping directive that all stray dogs must be removed from the vicinity of educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands and railway stations. The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria, made it clear that once captured, the dogs should not be returned to the same locations after sterilisation.

The order extends beyond dogs, instructing states and union territories, along with the National Highway Authority and municipal bodies, to clear stray cattle from national and state highways as well as other roads. A dedicated highway patrol team is to be established by each state and union territory to capture such cattle and relocate them to shelter homes where they will receive proper care.

Scope of the directive

The cour

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