The society in its complaint to the Commission on July 28 highlighted with statistics on dog bites registered in Pune the dangers of stray dogs to the human population in the city.

Acting on the complaint, assistant registrar of the NHRC wrote to the chief secretary to the state government on September 20: ``whereas the complaint/intimation received from Qaneez Sukhrani, joint secretary, National Society for Clean Cities...was placed before the commission on September 7, 1999,

``And whereas upon perusing the complaint, the commission has passed the following order: ` May call for a report from chief secretary, Government of Maharashtra. Response in four weeks. Now, therefore take notice that you are required to submit the requisite information report on or before 21st October, 1999.'

``Take further notice that in default the commission may proceed to take action as it deems proper.''

Writing to the NHRC on behalf of the Society, Sukhrani stated that: ``The stray, mangy rabid dog menace has long reached unmanageable proportions in Pune. The municipal corporation and the cantonment board claim to be bound by the law that prevents them from eradicating these strays in a humane manner. Dog protection organisations specifically the Blue Cross Society (BCS) and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) kick up a furore everytime the topic of dog population control is brought up while doing very little about it.

``No doubt, these organisations have very noble plans but they have merely remained on paper. Paucity of funds is a reality in a third world country like ours, where available resources need to be directed to preservation of human life.......Yearly hospital expenses for a single dog to be sterilised/vaccinated are astronomical. Anti-rabies injections manufactured by multi-nationals cost the earth. The bottomline still remains trauma, danger and fatality to human life.''

Sukhrani states further: ``Rajya Sabha deputy speaker, Dr.Nejma Hepatullah has recently written to you (NHRC) about a strategy to be put in place with a view to controlling thus aggressive menace to innocent human beings. The General Body of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has questioned the civic administration on its failure to curb stray dogs.

``However, as recently as on June 25, 1999, the Mumbai High Court passed an order that permits killing of stray dogs `as a last resort.' Alarming statistics about anti-rabies cases and hard facts about human fatalities should warrant such an action without further procastination. Stray dogs are not an endangered species that the dog lover groups should go so ballastic. In today's times, human life remains more endangered from all counts.''

An appeal
Encouraged by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) action on its complaint, the Pune unit of the National Society for Clean Cities has appealed to citizens who have been victims of stray dog bites or who have been suffering stray dog menace in their respective localities to send in their detailed accounts, which will then be compiled and forwarded to the NHRC.

The complaints and accounts have been asked to be mailed to:
National Society for Clean Cities,
B/3, La Shanz, Boat Club Road,
Pune-410001.