CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has found himself at the center of a major political and legal controversy after announcing an aggressive state-wide campaign to target stray and “killer” dogs. Citing a recent Supreme Court ruling, Mann took to social media to state that the Punjab government would launch an initiative “to eliminate stray and dangerous dogs” threatening citizens and children, while publicly thanking the apex court for its judgment.
The announcement triggered immediate backlash from opposition benches and animal rights advocates, who accuse the Chief Minister of completely mischaracterizing the top court’s legal directives.
Key Takeaways
-
The Allegation of Misinterpretation: Opponents argue that the Chief Minister misinterpreted a highly nuanced judicial order. BJP leader Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga confirmed he has formally written to the Chief Justice of India, asserting that Mann publicly misreported the court’s stance. Bagga clarified that the Supreme Court only permits targeted intervention for rabid, incurably ill, or demonstrably dangerous dogs following strict veterinary protocols, and explicitly does not sanction a blanket mass elimination drive.
-
Gubernatorial Caution: Stepping into the debate, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria urged the state administration to exercise extreme restraint. Emphasizing that “dogs are also living beings,” the Governor noted that any state-led exercise must strictly align with Supreme Court guidelines and cannot devolve into an indiscriminate culling operation.
-
Demand for Humane Interventions: Former MLA Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu strongly rebuked the Chief Minister’s rhetoric, describing it as “harsh.” She called on the AAP-led government to abandon elimination strategies and instead address systemic infrastructure gaps by prioritizing humane sterilization, mass vaccinations, animal shelter creation, and regulated pet registration.
-
The Policy Vacuum: The brewing row highlights a long-standing governance challenge in the state. Critics accuse successive administrations of failing to build adequate animal welfare infrastructure, urging the current leadership to balance public safety with statutory compliance and compassion toward animals.
