The Meghalaya High Court has approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to continue hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the state’s stray dog problem, describing the situation as unusually dangerous compared to other regions.

A division bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, in its August 30 order, observed that many stray dogs in Meghalaya are unusually aggressive, often attacking people suddenly in public and sometimes causing serious injuries.

The court noted that the issue differs from similar cases elsewhere, as the “vicious” nature of stray dogs in the state requires close local management.

Earlier, the High Court had directed authorities to capture stray dogs, vaccinate and inoculate them, provide medical care, and keep them in shelter homes for observation. Dogs could only be released after ensuring they were no longer aggressive, as releasing them prematurely could endanger public safety.

Considering these factors, the bench instructed its Registrar General to submit a formal request to the Supreme Court to allow the PIL to continue in Meghalaya due to its “peculiar and distinctive” nature.

The case is scheduled for further hearing on October 15.