Mass killing of dogs at Hyderabad Symbiosis: Telangana HC moves two PILs to Supreme Court

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court transferred two PILs to the Supreme Court regarding the alleged killing of community dogs by administering food laced with poison in the outskirts of Hyderabad at Symbiosis University.

What is the case about?

On Wednesday, the Division Bench of the HC, comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin, was hearing two petitions seeking directions to the police to register criminal cases against unidentified persons allegedly responsible for killing street dogs by administering food laced with poison, along with a court-monitored investigation into the matter.

The litigation arose from incidents wherein more than 40 community dogs in and around the Symbiosis International University campus on the outskirts of Hyderabad were allegedly killed by unidentified persons. The Chief Justice Bench heard both Public Interest Litigations addressing this serious animal welfare concern.

Petitioner claims govt officials approved the killings

V Rishihas Reddy, appearing as counsel for the petitioner, presented arguments before the court alleging that the dogs were killed in the vicinity of the university at the instance of the Tahsildar of Nandigama Mandal in Rangareddy district, the Sarpanch of Modallaguda Gram Panchayat, and the civic authorities of the University.

The petitioner sought appropriate legal action against the persons responsible for killing the stray dogs and a stay on all further trapping, removal and culling of community dogs from the Symbiosis International University, Hyderabad campus.

Similar cases pending at Supreme Court

After hearing the submissions advanced by the counsel for the petitioner, the Division Bench transferred both Public Interest Litigations to the Supreme Court on the ground that similar issues are currently pending adjudication before the apex court.

High Court asks for concrete proof of killings

The Bench further observed that the petitioner failed to furnish substantiating evidence regarding the deaths of the dogs, as the petition primarily relied upon newspaper reports, media coverage and social media claims without concrete evidentiary support.

One PIL was filed by V Rishihas Reddy, an advocate practising from Vasavi Shantiniketan, Hyderabad, seeking to stay all further trapping, removal and culling of community dogs from the Symbiosis International University, Hyderabad campus.

Another PIL was filed by Humane Society International India seeking directions to the Telangana Government and the State Animal Welfare Board concerning animal welfare measures and protection of community dogs in the state.