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Informist, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025

 

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--SC says earlier court order to pick up stray dogs remains intact 
--SC stays order to not release stray dogs picked up by authorities in public
--CONTEXT: SC had directed to relocate stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters 
--SC: Street dogs should be dewormed, vaccinated, sent back to same area
--SC: Dogs with rabies or aggressive behavior shall not be released
--SC: No public feeding of street dogs to be allowed 
--SC: Dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs to be created 
 

 

NEW DELHI – A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Friday paused an earlier order that had directed that stray dogs picked up by municipal authorities will not be sent back to the streets, colonies, and public places after sterilisation, deworming, and immunisation. Upholding the directive for authorities to pick up stray dogs, the top court said these dogs will be sterilised, dewormed, and immunised, but they will be sent back to the same area from where they were picked up. However, stray dogs exhibiting aggressive behaviour or infected with rabies should be immunised and not released in public areas. 

 

In light of an increase in dog attacks, a division bench of the Supreme Court on Aug. 11 had ordered that stray dogs should be picked up from localities of Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad, Gurugram as well as areas on the outskirts of the capital and then relocated to designated shelters or pounds.

 

The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria said Friday that feeding of stray dogs on the streets will not be permitted. Any person found feeding stray dogs in contravention of this direction shall face action under the relevant legal framework, it said.  

 

The aforesaid direction was issued in light of reports regarding untoward incidents caused by unregulated public feeding of stray dogs, which also creates great difficulties for the common man walking on the streets. Further, the bench said appropriate authorities should set up dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs.

 

The municipal authorities shall forthwith commence the exercise of creating dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs in each municipal ward, said the apex court. The feeding area should be identified, keeping in view the population of stray dogs in the ward, it said. Further, notice boards must be placed mentioning that stray dogs should be fed only in such areas. The top court said the municipal corporations in Delhi-NCR will continue to comply with its earlier orders to immediately create dog shelters or pounds. 

 

Further, the apex court reiterated the direction passed by the division bench that no individual or organisation should obstruct the municipal authorities from picking up stray dogs. It asked every individual dog lover and non-government organisation that had approached the apex court regarding the earlier order to deposit INR 25,000 and INR 200,000, respectively, with the registry within a period of seven days, failing which they will not be allowed to appear in the matter any further. The amount deposited shall be used for the creation of infrastructure and facilities for stray dogs under the aegis of respective municipal bodies, the court added.

 

In addition, the apex court expanded the scope of the matter regarding stray dogs beyond Delhi-NCR and extended it to pan-India, and impleaded all states and union territories. The court said it will transfer to itself similar petitions pending in all high courts to formulate a national policy on the issue. 

 

In July, the division bench had initiated a suo motu case on the issue of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR and rising dog bite incidents. Then, the top court passed a set of directions for keeping stray dogs out of the streets of Delhi-NCR. However, the directions passed by the apex court drew strong objections from animal welfare groups who complained of cruelty and statutory violations. The groups filed fresh pleas over the directive, complaining about inconsistencies with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control Rules. Consequently, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai withdrew the matter from the division bench and reassigned it to the three-judge bench.

 

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, argued that sterilisation does not stop rabies. "Even if you immunise, that does not stop mutilation of children," said Mehta, adding, "there is a vocal minority view against a silent majority view". Mehta said while dogs must not be killed, they should be separated, sterilised and treated humanely, and urged the court to craft an effective solution to a growing public-health concern.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

 

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