The Supreme Court on Thursday posted for hearing on October 18, a batch of 30 petition – many from Kerala including one from a panchayat from Kannur district – seeking steps to curb and control the menace of stray dogs bites and fatal attacks, as court indicated that it intends to issue guidelines to resolve the human and animal conflict.

Indicating that it would issue guidelines to resolve the human-animal conflict, a bench of Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice K.V. Viswanathan said that two nodal counsel – one each from both the sides – would prepare a common compilation that would be relied upon by the arguing senior advocates from both the sides in the course of the hearing that would be held on a day-to-day basis.

While one set of petitioners are favouring the elimination of stray dogs, the other side wants the issue to be addressed as per the provision of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2023.