CHENNAI: As a part of a wider set of measures to address the “alarming rise in dog-bite incidents” across the country, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that stray dogs picked up from “institutional areas and public spaces” must not be released back to the same spots and instead be sterilised, vaccinated and shifted to designated shelters.

The apex court had directed Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories to file compliance reports within eight weeks. It also directed the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to issue uniform Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) within four weeks to guide States, Union Territories and institutions on preventing dog bites and managing stray dogs in public and institutional areas.

The top court also stated that local bodies were responsible

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