Agencies failed to curb stray dog count: ABC panel member

The State Animal Birth Control (ABC) Monitoring Committee on Wednesday (September 17, 2025) called for stricter implementation of rules in line with the Supreme Court’s August 22 order on stray dogs and Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) guidelines to ensure “increased scrutiny and transparency”.

Pointing to the lack of accountability by the implementing agencies, including civic authorities and NGOs, which was recently flagged by courts, Gauri Maulekhi, a member of the State ABC panel, said, “Leaving implementation solely to these agencies has failed to deliver effective stray dog management across the city. We will oversee the implementation and check violations of the guidelines.”

The monitoring committee, established in all States and Union Territories under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the ABC programmes to reduce man-animal conflict and eradicate rabies.

The committee has been reconstituted by the Delhi Government and is headed by the Urban Development Department Secretary, with meetings now scheduled every two months to track progress and compliance.

Ms. Maulekhi’s remark came two days after the government notified new guidelines for ABC programmes.