The Bengaluru South City Corporation has sparked significant controversy by issuing a directive requiring all educational institutions within its jurisdiction to conduct comprehensive surveys of stray dogs on their premises. This move has drawn sharp criticism from private schools' associations, who accuse the civic body of attempting to transfer its own responsibilities onto educational institutions.
School Associations Push Back Against Directive
The Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools of Karnataka (KAMS) has strongly opposed the corporation's order, demanding that the directive be either completely withdrawn or reduced to an advisory status. The association argues that school staff already shoulder extensive academic and administrative workloads, and compelling them to perform duties outside their educational mandate constitutes misuse of authority.
D Shashi Kumar, secretary of KAMS, emphasized that "various diversified work is already harming learning outcomes" and that schools have more important priorities focused on learning and pedagogy. He pointed out that the fundamental cause of stray dog proliferation near schools, hospitals, and other public places is open garbage disposal adjacent to these premises.
Legal Basis and Infrastructure Requirements
The corporation's directive references a recent Supreme Court ruling concerning controlling stray dogs on premises of public institutions. The circular explicitly states that non-compliance will be deemed a violation of the top court's order and may lead to legal consequences for institutions that fail to adhere to the requirements.
In addition to conducting the stray dog survey, educational institutions have been instructed to ensure adequate fencing, boundary walls, and gates with a minimum height of 10 feet to prevent the ingress of stray animals onto their campuses. These infrastructure requirements represent significant additional burdens for many schools operating with limited resources.
Jurisdictional Dispute and Legal Arguments
KAMS has categorically stated that regulation of stray animals falls squarely within the jurisdiction of urban local bodies, as recognized by both the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The association argues that unless the civic authority rectifies waste-management lapses in the vicinity of educational institutions, expecting schools to control stray dog populations is impractical and unreasonable.
The schools association further reasoned that the Supreme Court has not directed any educational institution or its staff to carry out enumeration of stray dogs, suggesting the corporation may be overreaching in its interpretation of the court's ruling. While KAMS has expressed willingness to cooperate in maintaining campus cleanliness and controlling stray animal ingress, they maintain that the primary responsibility lies with the municipal authorities.
The standoff highlights the ongoing challenges Bengaluru faces in managing its stray dog population while balancing the responsibilities between civic bodies and other public institutions. The outcome of this dispute could set important precedents for how similar issues are handled across urban India.
