According to Lt Col (retd) Dr J C Khanna, a member of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), while the culling of rabid and terminally-ill dogs is understandable, the organisation were not sure about the definition of ‘nuisance’ dogs. “The word ‘nuisance’ is subjective and there was a question about which dogs should be classified as nuisance. We wanted a more precise definition for the word and that’s why we moved the Supreme Court.”

The court has also issued a notice to a Goa-based organisation People for Elimination of Stray Troubles which had filed a petition for killing stray dogs.

Fizzah Shah of In Defence of Animals said: “There is no Act that gives a commissioner the discriminatory power to kill stray dogs. They have the power to curb civic nuisance but not to kill stray animals.”

Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak said he was yet to get a copy of the order. “Once we receive the copy we will be able to decide the future course of action.”

Phatak said the civic administration had not taken any action against stray dogs so far owing to the stay issued by the High Court. “There was a six-week stay, ending on January 30.”