Shillong, Feb 11: The Meghalaya High Court on Monday directed the Shillong Municipal Board to complete the construction of a dog shelter home within 30 days.
In its order passed after hearing a PIL on the matter, the bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh said that the Shillong Municipal Board has filed an affidavit affirmed on February 5 and it appears that the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of the State government has a shelter for dogs and was approached by the Municipal Board to accommodate the animals captured by them.
In response to a letter dated January 3, 2025 of the Board, the Director of the Department by his letter dated January 16, 2025 had informed him that the Board was given responsibility to provide a shelter and not the State and that the above facility was being used for animal birth control programme.
“However, it is very heartening to note that the Municipal Board soon thereafter invited tender for construction of a dog shelter home, has awarded the contract in favour of a party and that construction of the shelter has started which is expected to be completed within the next 30 days. We direct the Municipal Board to ensure as far as possible that this construction is completed within the above stipulated time and the street dogs are provided shelter there,” the bench said.
“In the meantime, the State through the Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department is directed to verify the authenticity of the Director’s statement that shelter for street dogs cannot be provided at the shelter of the department and if it is possible to keep the street dogs there, shall cooperate with the Board so that pending start of operation of the Board’s shelter, the street dogs captured by the Board are accommodated in the State’s dog shelter,” it added.
On the relocation of the zoo in Shillong, the bench said, “…we had expressed our satisfaction with the steps taken by the government for shifting the zoo in Shillong to a location about 35 kms from the city. Only the birds could not be shifted. They were also likely to be shifted to the new location after construction of a cage type enclosure.”
Meanwhile, the bench has directed both the Shillong Municipal Board and the State to file short affidavits to indicate action taken in terms of this order.
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