India, Oct. 27 -- The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on states and Union territories (UTs) for failing to submit compliance reports from their animal husbandry departments and local bodies on the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, warning that top bureaucrats will face personal accountability for their inaction in controlling the stray dog menace while safeguarding human and animal welfare.

A three-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath directed the chief secretaries of all states and UTs to be present before it on November 3, along with explanations for why no compliance affidavits had been filed despite ample time.

The bench noted that only Telangana, West Bengal, and the Municipal Corporation of ...