The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to file a comprehensive report on the steps taken to comply with the Supreme Court’s directions on removing stray dogs from public spaces. The report has to cover action taken up to July 31.

The court passed the order in a case initiated by the high court following the Supreme Court’s directions of May 19. It also issued notices to the Centre and the National Highways Authority of India in the matter, and listed the case for hearing on August 3.

A bench of Justices Dinesh Mehta and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta said there was a need to strike a balance between the interests of “dog lovers” and “dog haters”. The bench said cases of dog bites were being reported every day and that it was the common man who was troubled. It also said the monkey menace was an “even more serious” issue.

“The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) shall file a comprehensive report in relation to the steps so far taken in compliance with directions so far passed by the Supreme Court, and this court, up to July 31,” the bench ordered.