Srinagar, Nov 25, KDC: Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Dr Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the District Level Committee (DLC) to assess the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions on tackling the stray-dog menace in educational and health institutions. The meeting, held at the New Conference Hall of the DC Office, marks one of the first coordinated district-level responses in Jammu & Kashmir following the Court’s strong observations on rising stray-dog attacks, particularly involving schoolchildren.
The Supreme Court has recently expressed serious concern over the threat posed by stray dogs to students and staff and issued explicit directions to states and UTs to ensure safe, dog-free premises in schools, colleges, hospitals and other public institutions. Emphasising the urgency of the matter, Dr Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat said the district administration must ensure full compliance “in letter and spirit,” noting that issues under direct judicial monitoring demand strict accountability and leave no room for delay or negligence.
During the meeting, the DC reviewed the preparedness of all departments and directed that immediate measures be taken across government and recognised private educational institutions to prevent the presence of stray dogs on campus. He highlighted the need for strong coordination among the Education, Health, Rural Development and Municipal departments to ensure a unified and effective response.
To support district-wide stray-dog management, the DC instructed Municipal Committees to identify suitable land parcels within one week for the construction of shelter sheds and quarantine centres, ensuring these facilities are located away from populated areas. He also called for the immediate operationalisation of Animal Birth Control (ABC) units in all municipal areas and announced that rural regions will adopt a cluster-based model, with five such clusters to be set up following submission of a detailed blueprint by the ACD.
The DC directed that a complete inventory of public institutions—schools, colleges and hospitals—be prepared for strengthening their perimeters and identifying vulnerable areas. He also instructed the Chief Medical Officer to ensure uninterrupted availability of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins across all 24×7 health facilities in the district.
Awareness initiatives were also emphasised. The Chief Education Officer and heads of colleges were asked to organise detailed programmes on safe behaviour around stray dogs, dog-bite protocol, and preventive measures. The DC stressed that schools must regularly sensitise students, teachers and non-teaching staff and adopt preventive mechanisms such as proper waste management, boundary inspections and routine monitoring to keep campuses safe.
Dr Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat reiterated that the district administration is fully committed to eliminating all risk factors in and around educational institutions and emphasised that visible and measurable results must follow the review. He directed all departments to plug existing gaps, maintain close inter-departmental coordination and submit time-bound compliance and Action Taken Reports for district-level review.
The meeting was attended by SDM Beerwah Taufeeq Gazi; CPO Budgam; ACD; ACP; CEO; CMO; CEO MC Budgam; DYSP Headquarters; DAHO; DYSSO; and Executive Officers of the Municipal Committees of Chadoora, Charar-i-Sharief, Magam, Khansahib and Beerwah. (KDC)
