CHENNAI: The Kotturpuram police have registered a Community Service Register (CSR) entry against two unidentified men for feeding stray dogs on a public road, following a complaint filed by a local resident citing a recent Supreme Court directive.
According to the police, complainant Muralidharan Sivalingam of Pondicherry Road, Kottur, spotted two men arriving on a scooter near the Kottur Garden area around 12.45 pm on September 7. The pillion rider allegedly placed food on the pavement for a stray dog before the duo left.
Muralidharan filmed the incident on his phone and uploaded the clips on social media tagging the Chennai police, corporation, and state officials.Claiming this to be the first such petition in Tamil Nadu after the Supreme Court’s restriction order, he filed a complaint with the police. Confirming the development, a Kotturpuram police official said, “The complaint has been taken on record. Action will follow as per legal provisions.”
Shruti Vinodhraj, honorary member of the Tamil Nadu animal welfare board, said, “The Supreme Court order clearly directs municipal authorities to create dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs in each ward. This is a larger exercise and will take time. Until then, feeding stray dogs on the streets cannot be stopped, as it would force them to roam in search of food and potentially create more disturbance to the public,” she said.
“Meanwhile, police officials should remain neutral while handling such complaints. It is only after these spaces are established that feeding stray dogs outside them would be considered a violation,” she added.
She also raised concern that after the Supreme Court direction, altercations between dog feeders and the public are on the rise.
Under Section 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, designated feeding spots within residential welfare associations are mandatory, but such facilities still remain absent in many areas. TNIE’s attempt to get a response from corporation officials was unsuccessful.