India, May 20 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked whether animal welfare organisations, NGOs and individuals, who claim to care for or exercise control over stray dogs in a given locality, would be willing to accept tortious liability in respect of any injury, harm or damage caused by the canines to members of the public.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria said while considerable emphasis has been placed on the protection, feeding and continued presence of community dogs in public and institutional spaces, a pertinent question arises as to whether such individuals, organisations and associations would be willing to assume the corresponding legal responsibility for the consequences arising therefrom.

"The iss...