Meghalaya HC Orders Urgent Setup of Animal Birth Control Committees in Missing Districts

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya High Court has instructed the state government to establish Animal Birth Control (ABC) committees in districts where they have yet to be formed, as per officials' statements on Wednesday. The court was informed that while most districts already have ABC committees, South Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills are exceptions.

This directive was issued during a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) brought forth by Kaustav Paul, which focuses on the control and management of stray dogs in the state.

A division bench, consisting of Chief Justice I P Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, issued the order on Tuesday. "We direct the listing of this public interest litigation once again on August 6, 2025, to obtain a further action taken report, including the establishment of committees for the two aforementioned districts, South Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills," the bench stated.

The main aim of forming these committees is to implement the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, along with the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001. These measures seek to manage the stray dog population humanely, encompassing activities such as capturing, treating, vaccinating, sterilising, and rehabilitating these animals in designated dog centres.

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