CIC orders Delhi MC to reveal stray‑dog data and NGO funding after alleged stone‑walling

The Central Information Commission (CIC) stepped in this week, calling out Delhi’s Municipal Corporation (MC) for what it described as “deliberate resistance” to information‑seeking citizens. The commission’s order came after several RTI applications asked for data on stray‑dog deaths, vaccination drives, and the sums the MC hands over to NGOs that claim to look after the city’s canines.

According to the CIC’s observation, the MC’s replies were evasive, peppered with “We cannot share that” and “That information is not available”. In a nutshell, the commission felt the MC was more interested in shutting down the request than actually examining it.

“The purpose of the Right to Information Act is to promote transparency,” the CIC’s order read. “When a public authority resorts to tactics that amount to intentional obstruction, it defeats the very spirit of the law.” The commission therefore directed the MC to disclose, within a reasonable time, the complete records of stray‑dog incidents, the list of NGOs receiving funds, and the exact amount disbursed to each.

Animal‑rights groups welcomed the development, noting that data on stray‑dog populations and mortality has always been patchy. “We’ve been asking for this for years. Knowing how many dogs die, why they die, and where the money goes is crucial for any meaningful intervention,” said a spokesperson from a Delhi‑based welfare NGO.

The MC, for its part, has said it will comply with the order, but hinted that the data collection mechanisms are not as robust as one might hope. “We maintain records, but they are spread across different departments and sometimes in paper form,” an official told reporters. “We will collate what we can and submit it to the commission.”

Meanwhile, the broader debate over how to manage the capital’s stray‑dog problem continues. Some residents argue for stricter population‑control measures, while others push for more humane, vaccination‑and‑adoption‑centric approaches. What’s clear now is that at least the numbers behind the debate will finally be out in the open, thanks to the CIC’s intervention.