New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (October 31, 2025) rejected the request to allow the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories, except West Bengal and Telangana, to appear before the court through digital medium on November 3 in the case of stray dogs and said that there is no respect for the court’s orders.
The Supreme Court had directed the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories, except West Bengal and Telangana, to appear before it on November 3 to explain why compliance affidavits were not filed despite the court’s August 22 order.
The bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta expressed displeasure over non-compliance of the court’s order of August 22 and said that till October 27, none of the states and union territories, except West Bengal, Telangana and Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD), had filed a compliance affidavit. The court had asked the states and union territories about the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules.
Referring to the matter, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had requested the bench to allow the Chief Secretaries to appear before the court on November 3 through digital medium. Tushar Mehta said, ‘This is a case of danger from dogs. Due to our lapse the court was forced to summon the Chief Secretaries. Just have one request, can they attend through digital medium instead of coming physically?
Justice Vikram Nath said that the Chief Secretaries will have to appear physically in the court. Justice Vikram Nath said, ‘It is very unfortunate that the court here is wasting time trying to deal with problems which should have been solved by the municipal corporations and state governments years ago.’ He said that Parliament has made rules (ABC) but no action was taken.
Justice Vikram Nath said, ‘When we ask them to file a compliance affidavit, they just sit silently. No respect for court orders. Okay then, let them come. The bench clarified that the Chief Secretaries will have to appear in the court and explain why the states and union territories did not file compliance affidavits.
On October 30, the Supreme Court had rejected the request of the Bihar government to exempt the Chief Secretary from appearing in the court on November 3 due to the assembly elections in the state. The bench had told the lawyer appearing for Bihar, ‘There is an Election Commission which will take care of it. Don’t worry. Let the Chief Secretary come. Assembly elections in Bihar are to be held on November 6 and 11 and counting of votes will take place on November 14.