The plan to euthanise stray dogs, currently put on hold by the high court, has angered animal rights groups and legal experts who worry it could be misused.
In 2022, the Kannur district panchayat approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to eliminate rabid and ill stray dogs. The panchayat said it decided to approach the court after an 11-year-old was mauled to death by a pack of strays.
However, the plea was turned down by the apex court since the panchayat wanted to euthanise stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2003. The court noted that there was no provision under the rules to kill strays.
