Dog lovers say Lodhi Garden canines not dangerous

Former Union minister Maneka Gandhi and other dog lovers moved Delhi high court on Wednesday seeking modification of its earlier order of removal of canines from posh Lodhi Garden.

Former Union minister Maneka Gandhi and other dog lovers moved Delhi high court on Wednesday seeking modification of its earlier order of removal of canines from posh Lodhi Garden.

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Filing an application before the bench headed by chief justice D Murugesan, a group of NGOs and persons, including Gandhi's People for Animals, said the dogs were not dangerous as they were "vaccinated".

Their counsel Raj Panjwani said: "As per the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, stray dogs can be vaccinated or sterilised and returned to their territory but never removed from the area."

He also said that dogs in Lodhi Garden were vaccinated and their number has gone down from 70 to 30 in five years. The removal of a particular dog is allowed under the rule when there is a complaint of bite or nuisance against the specific animal, the lawyer also said.

The bench said, "We have not said in our order to kill the canines but to take appropriate steps." The court, however, agreed to modify its October 10 order.