Meghalaya HC Orders Formation of Animal Birth Control Committees in Remaining Districts to Address Stray Dog Crisis

In a significant push towards the humane management of stray animals, the Meghalaya High Court has directed the state government to constitute Animal Birth Control (ABC) Committees in all districts, including South Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills, which are yet to have such bodies in place.

The directive came during the latest hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Kaustav Paul, which raised concerns over the growing stray dog population and the need for systematic control mechanisms across the state.

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The division bench, comprising Chief Justice I P Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, noted that while most districts had already formed ABC Committees, the absence of such bodies in these two districts was a gap in policy implementation.

“We direct listing of this public interest litigation once again on August 6, 2025, to receive further action taken report, including constitution of committees for the said two districts,” the bench stated in its order issued on Tuesday.

The ABC Committees are tasked with implementing the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001. These rules mandate humane and scientific methods for controlling the stray dog population, including capturing, sterilising, vaccinating, and rehabilitating stray dogs. The focus is on reducing human-animal conflict while safeguarding public health and animal welfare.

The court’s intervention comes amid increasing reports of stray dog-related issues in urban and semi-urban parts of Meghalaya, including Shillong and Tura.

Animal rights groups and civic bodies have long called for more robust and decentralised animal birth control programs to prevent unchecked breeding, the spread of rabies, and inhumane treatment of stray dogs.

Once operational across all districts, the ABC Committees are expected to work in coordination with municipal bodies, veterinary departments, and civil society organisations to ensure regular monitoring, timely sterilisation drives, and establishment of dog shelters and treatment centres.

The next hearing, scheduled for August 6, 2025, is expected to include an update from the state government on progress made in constituting the committees and implementing the ABC protocols in South Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills.