India, May 25 -- The Supreme Court on Monday declined to issue any clarification regarding its recent judgment that, for the first time, expressly permitted authorities to euthanise rabid, incurably ill and demonstrably dangerous stray dogs in areas witnessing frequent attacks, while holding that public safety and protection of human life cannot be compromised by an "unduly expansive" reading of animal welfare regulations.

A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused to entertain an application moved by NGO Animals Are People Too seeking clarification that the court's May 19 ruling should not be construed as permitting indiscriminate culling of stray dogs.

The bench observed that public statements or media reports could not...