Patiala, May 23 -- Amid rising public concern over stray dog attacks across Punjab, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced that the state government will implement the Supreme Court's recent directions on stray dogs "in true letter and spirit", including removal of dogs from crowded public spaces and creation of dedicated shelters across the state. In a significant statement, Mann also said legally permissible measures, including euthanasia of rabid, terminally ill or demonstrably aggressive dogs posing a threat to human life, would be carried out in accordance with the law. The Supreme Court on May 19, for the first time, expressly authorised authorities to put down rabid, incurably ill and demonstrably dangerous stray dogs in areas witnessing frequent attacks, joining countries such as the United States, Russia and Japan that permit euthanasia of rabid or dangerous stray dogs under statutory safeguards. A bench of justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria said that civic and local authorities may, after veterinary assessment and in accordance with statutory safeguards under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, resort to "legally permissible measures, including euthanasia" to curb the threat posed by dangerous dogs. The bench underlined that "compassion for animal life" cannot override the constitutional obligation of the state to protect human life under Article 21. The right to live with dignity also includes the right to move freely without fear of harm from dogs, it said. "Where the safety and lives of people are weighed against the interests and welfare of sentient beings, the constitutional balance must clearly favour the protection and preservation of human life," the top court noted. Referring to the Supreme Court's directions, Mann said the Punjab government had already issued instructions to authorities to ensure strict compliance, while balancing public safety with humane treatment of animals. "Children, senior citizens and families must be able to move freely without fear," the chief minister said, asserting that stray dogs will be relocated from high-footfall areas such as markets, parks, residential clusters and other public spaces where repeated attack incidents have been reported. "The growing stray dog menace has emerged as a serious threat to public safety. The government cannot ignore the fear and anxiety among citizens following repeated incidents of attacks," Mann said. The government will also establish and maintain adequate dog shelters to ensure proper care, vaccination and monitoring of relocated animals, he said. Reiterating his government's commitment to public welfare, Mann said matters concerning citizen safety remained a top priority. "Every decision of the Punjab government is aimed at safeguarding public interest and ensuring the well-being of people," he added. Over the past five years, Punjab has recorded a consistent surge in dog bite cases. From 1.10 lakh cases in 2020, the state reported a staggering 3.34 lakh dog bite cases in 2025, a worrying three-fold spike. In 2026, Punjab has logged 1.37 lakh additional cases in the first four months, accounting for over 1,100 cases daily, with March alone witnessing 36,745 cases. According to the Punjab health department data, Amritsar emerged as the worst-affected district, reporting 21,332 dog bite cases in 2026. It was followed by Ludhiana with 14,808 cases and Patiala with 9,710 cases. Dr Amandev Singh, assistant professor in the community medicine department at Government Medical College, Patiala, said, "Of all the cases, around 80% of dog bite cases are caused by stray dogs, reflecting the menace on the streets." Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria urged the state government to exercise caution, stating that Supreme Court guidelines must be strictly followed, adding that the campaign cannot become an indiscriminate killing operation. BJP leader Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga also stressed that the top court ruling did not authorise a blanket mass elimination drive. Addressing the chief minister through an Instagram post, actor Sonam Bajwa said the Supreme Court directions were being misunderstood by many people. "The court spoke about regulated removal from sensitive public spaces along with sterilisation, vaccination and sheltering - not wiping dogs off the streets," Bajwa said, urging against excessive or harshmeasures targeting community animals....