Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 30: The Supreme Court has observed that the presence of stray dogs on beaches is adversely affecting tourism in states such as Goa and Kerala, while sharply criticising several States and Union Territories, including Goa, for filing “vague” affidavits on compliance with its directions to remove stray dogs from public places.

A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria, hearing a suo motu petition on the issue, said the matter has serious public safety and economic implications. Justice Mehta noted that stray dogs are attracted to beaches due to fish carcasses, adding that this directly impacts tourism.

The observations come amid growing concern in Goa over a surge in dog-bite incidents. During the recent winter session of the Goa Assembly, the state government acknowledged that rising dog-bite cases had damaged Goa’s image as a tourist destination. Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Nilkanth Halarnkar said the stray dog management policy was revised in 2023 to tackle the worsening situation.

“Taking into consideration several dog-bite cases that have occurred in the state to locals and visitors, bringing a bad reputation to the tourism sector, the policy was revised in 2023 to make it more effective,” the minister had said.

During the hearing, senior advocate Gaurav Aggarwal, assisting the court as amicus curiae, told the Bench that dogs picked up from beaches cannot be released back in the same areas. He also presented data submitted by various States and Union Territories, including Goa, on measures taken to control the stray dog population.

The apex court noted that several affidavits filed in response to its earlier directions lacked clarity and failed to demonstrate effective compliance. Earlier, on January 13, the court had indicated it may direct States to pay heavy compensation in dog-bite cases, pointing out that norms related to stray animal management had not been implemented for nearly five years. It had also signalled that liability could be fixed on state authorities and dog feeders for injuries or deaths caused by stray dog attacks.

Official data shows a sharp rise in dog-bite cases in Goa over the past three years. While 11,899 cases were reported in 2023, the number rose to 17,232 in 2024 and further to 19,368 in 2025, the highest in recent years. In 2025, Salcete recorded the highest number of cases at 5,252, followed by Bardez (3,709), Ponda (2,112) and Quepem (2,099). Tiswadi reported 1,213 cases, with other talukas also seeing steady increases.

Earlier this month, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had stressed the need for coordinated action among departments to address issues such as stray dogs and cattle, garbage, taxis, potholes, infrastructure and touts, citing their impact on tourism.