: Industrialist and chairman of Stray Dog-free Movement Kochouseph Chittilappilly will stage a 24-hour hunger strike demanding a solution to the stray dog menace from 10 a.m. on October 25 at Marine Drive.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Mr. Chittilappilly said that this was only a token strike and more intense protest would be launched if authorities continued their alleged apathy. He said that he was moved into taking such a decision after witnessing the problems caused by stray dogs. Slogans coined for the protest include ‘Rename Animal Welfare Board of India as the Dog Welfare Board and ‘vote only to candidates who assure a solution to stray dog menace’. The demands that will be raised include justice from the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and tracing the source of the Boycott Kerala Tourism campaign.
HC hearing over
In the meantime, the High Court has completed hearing and reserved for judgment a petition filed by Mr. Chittilappilly seeking implementation of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules last year.
O.N. Joy of Stray Dogs Eradication Group is set to approach the court against the Ayavana panchayat secretary’s decision to withdraw the permission to give 100 stray dogs to the care of Coimbatore-based Snehalaya for Animals based on a call received from the office of the Union Minister for Women and Child Development.
The petitioner will argue that the decision was reversed without hearing the parties concerned and that the Union ministry acted as an extra constitutional authority by meddling in the decision of a local body.
Police chief to explain
The State Human Rights Commission has directed the State Police Chief to submit an explanation as to how he could issue a circular that cases will be registered against those killing stray dogs, when there was a High Court order that dangerous stray dogs can be eliminated. The SHRC chairperson, J.B. Koshy asked the State Police Chief to submit the explanation within Nov 30, in a complaint filed by Chittilappally.
