- (1.) On 4.10.2016, this Court, after referring to the earlier orders, had reproduced the module filed by the Animal Welfare Board. A copy thereof was served on the Union of India. The Union of India has filed its response. After stating certain aspects, the decisions that have been taken by the Union of India read as follows :- "(i) Involvement of various agencies/departments at the central and state level, more particularly at the state level, was required in the proper and effective control and management of stray dogs as per ABC Rules implemented by the AWBI. As the task had to be performed through the municipal authorities and other state government departments at the state level, the state governments should be advised to set up and strengthen institutional mechanisms and the AWBI should be part of such mechanism. State governments have already been advised by the Central Government to set up State level Animal Welfare Boards which should be the nodal mechanism to perform this task. (ii) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare may be requested to identify a scheme/source of funding for the control and management of stray dogs through relevant agency at the state level. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is funding the NRCP and there is a scope of funding human component of the proposed activity therein. An advisory could be sent by the Ministry to the State Governments in this regard. (iii) In rural areas, some agency of Government has to play role to sensitize the panchayats and take care of financial needs in capacity building. Ministry of Rural Development should study this aspect and make suitable recommendations to the State Governments. (iv) DADF may advise the Animal Husbandary Departments in the State Governments to train the State Government vets, para vets and dog catchers to make the programme successful. (v) An advisory may also be issued from Ministry of Urban Development to all the State Governments to include the animal birth control in AMRUT or Smart City Programme, as appropriate. A similar request could go from the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation to the States for inclusion in Swachh Bharat Programme. (vi) In order to strengthen the Board's position and make them monitor the programme, the AWBI may decide, with approval of the government, shifting its HQ from Chennai to Delhi in order to ensure full and effective participation of all government and non-government members in the functioning of the Board and monitoring of the Central Programmes. The Regional Office of AWBI at Chennai may continue to be maintained. Necessary strengthening in terms of manpower and technical/expert help may also be examined."
(2.) The response filed by the Union of India be served on the learned counsel for the all the States so that they can obtain instructions and, in the meantime, make efforts to comply with the same.
(3.) Learned counsel appearing for the intervenors shall be at liberty to file their responses to the module filed by the Union of India.;