Increasing stray dog attacks a violation of child rights, Kerala Child Rights Commission tells Supreme Court

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction for euthanising “suspected rabid dogs and extremely dangerous dogs”

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has moved the Supreme Court, saying increasing stray dog attacks on children, often with fatal results, and inaction on the part of State authorities is a violation of child rights.

The Commission (KeSCPCR), represented by advocate Jaimon Andrews, has filed an intervention application and sought a direction from the apex court for euthanising “suspected rabid dogs and extremely dangerous dogs”.

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The apex court had recently issued notice in a similar petition filed by the Kannur district panchayat and listed the case on July 12 for hearing.

Both KeSCPCR and the panchayat, in their separate pleas, have referred to the death of a 11-year-old autistic child, Nihal, in Kannur on June 11.

The Commission said it had taken suo motu case of several incidents of stray dog attacks on children in the State.

It said it was speaking in the voice of the children who have suffered from the menace.