Punjab started removal campaign

The Punjab government on Friday launched a drive to remove stray dogs from public places, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann saying the state will follow the Supreme Court order in letter and spirit.

“The Punjab government will follow the Supreme Court order dated May 19, 2026, in letter and spirit. As per the orders of the Supreme Court, we will remove stray dogs from all high-populated public places so that children, senior citizens and families can move freely without fear for their safety,” Mann said in a post on Twitter on Friday.

“We will create and maintain a sufficient number of dog shelters where they can be properly cared for,” Mann wrote. They promised legally acceptable measures, including euthanasia in cases involving rabid, terminally ill or obviously dangerous and aggressive dogs that may pose a threat to human life and safety. He said the measures would be taken strictly as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and ABC (Animal Birth Control) rules.

According to an official statement, Mann said the Punjab government will implement the Supreme Court’s directions on stray dogs in letter and spirit, ensuring both public safety and humane care of the animals.

He reaffirmed the Punjab Government’s commitment towards protecting human life and animal welfare.

He said the government is committed to addressing this issue in a humane and legally compliant manner while protecting public safety.

“Issues related to public safety and matters of utmost importance to the public are always given top priority by the Punjab government,” he said.

The Supreme Court, in a significant judgment, allowed euthanasia of rabid, terminally ill, dangerous and aggressive dogs to prevent threat to human life, saying the right to live with dignity includes the right to roam freely without the threat of harm from dogs.

The top court ruled that when the safety and life of human beings are weighed against the interests and welfare of sentient beings, the constitutional balance must necessarily and clearly tilt in favor of protection and preservation of human life.