Stray Dogs To Be Vaccinated, Sterilized & Returned To Streets: Supreme Court Partially Modifies Earlier Order
|The Supreme Court also impleaded all States and Union Territories in the matter as the issue of dog-bites is a PAN-India issue.
Today, the Supreme Court partially modifies its previous order directing capturing and shifting of dogs from streets in Delhi NCR.
The Three Judges Bench directed that the stray dogs that will be picked up shall be sterilized, vaccinated and released back to the same area from which they were picked up. However, stray-dogs inflicted with rabies or with aggressive behaviour were not to be released into streets.
The Supreme Court took Suo-Moto Writ Petition on the issue of dog-bites reported in Delhi and the areas on the outskirts, leading to rabies and ultimately young infants, children and aged are falling prey to this dreadful disease. Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the State of NCT of Delhi, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to pick up all stray dogs from the localities and public places in Delhi and put them in shelter homes.
The Bench comprising of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice N V Anjaria directed, "The dogs that are picked up shall be... Sterilized, vaccinated and released back to the same area from which they were picked up. It is however clarified that this will not apply to dogs inflicted with rabies or suspected to be inflicted with rabies or those who display aggressive behaviour. Such dogs shall be sterilized and immunized but shall under no circumstances will be released back to streets."
At the outset, Justice Nath highlighted that similar matters were pending in other High Courts. Thus, the Supreme Court impleaded all States and Union Territories in the Suo-Moto Petition.
"Apart from adding everyone and the Secretary, Animal Husbandry and other Local Bodies, we have also directed Secretary General to get information on similar pending matters in High Courts and all those matters to be transferred to this Court so that a final National Policy or decision is taken with this regard to this problem", said Justice Nath.
Subsequently, Justice Nath read the Order and noted that a holistic approach requires certain modifications in the previous directions given by Court.
Accordingly, the Court clarified and modified the Order as follows:
Municipal Authority shall continue to comply with directions with regard creating dog shelters and dog pounds.
However, certain modifications were made to the extent that it prohibited the release of the picked up stray dog was kept in abeyance for the time being.
"The dogs that are picked up shall be... Sterilized, vaccinated and released back to the same area from which they were picked up. It is however clarified that this will not apply to dogs inflicted with rabies or suspected to be inflicted with rabies or those who display aggressive behaviour. Such dogs shall be sterilized and immunized but shall under no circumstances will be released back to streets", the Court observed.
Further, Municipal Authorities to create dedicated feeding spaces for the start dogs in each Municipal Ward.
"Under no condition shall the feeding of stray dogs on streets be permitted. The persons found feeding the dogs on streets in contravention of the direction shall liable to be proceeded under relevant legal framework", the Court recorded in its Order.
The Court highlighted that the practice of feeding dogs on streets cause hindrance for common man walking on streets. Each Municipal Authority shall also create helpline number regarding incidents of doh bites and appropriate measures to be taken.
Further, the Court said that no NGO or Individual shall cause any hindrance in the effective implementation of the direction given.
"In case any public servant acting in compliance of the order is obstructed, the violators will face prosecution fir obstruction of public servant acting in discharge of official duty", the Court observed.
Further, the Court directed that each dog lover and NGO who had approached the court with regard to the issue has to deposit a sum of Rs.25000/- and Rs 2,00,000/-. Such sum will be used in creation of the infrastructure and facilities for the stray dogs.
The Bench further noted that since application of Animal Birth Control Rules is uniform all over the country, the Court proposed to expand scope of the matter from the confines of New Delhi.
Accordingly, all States and Union Territories were directed to be impleaded as parties.
The matter will be heard after eight weeks.
Background
On the basis of a Newspaper cutting reported by the `Times of India’ in its today’s Delhi edition titled “City Hounded By Strays, Kids Pay Price”, the Bench of Justice Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan recorded in its order dated July 28, 2025, “We are shocked to know that on an average 20,000 cases of dog bites are recorded in the country and out of which 2000 incidents happen in Delhi every day.”
The Supreme Court also noted that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has announced a Scheme for rehabilitation of stray dogs, however, what the Supreme Court wants to emphasize on was that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi should ensure safety of young children and aged citizens at any cost.
On August 11, 2025, the Supreme Court directed the State of NCT of Delhi, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to pick up all stray dogs from the localities and public places in Delhi and put them in shelter homes. Such detained dogs are not be released under any circumstance.
“We are issuing this direction, keeping only one thing in mind, i.e. larger public interest. Infants and young children should not fall prey to such dog bites leading to rabies. The action should inspire confidence in the minds of people, young and old, that they can move around freely on roads without any fear of being beaten by a stray dog”, Justice Pardiwala said while issuing directions in the Suo-Moto Writ Petition.
Later, the Suo-Moto Petition was referred to larger bench and the Court reserved the order on the interim prayer seeking a stay on the August 11 directions passed by the Apex Court. The Bench noted that the whole problem was because of inaction of local authorities.
Thereafter, on August 21, 2025, the Supreme Court refused urgent listing of a plea challenging a notification issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi with regard to picking up of stray dogs.
Cause Title: In Re: “City Hounded By Strays, Kids Pay Price” (SMW(C) No. 5/2025 PIL-W )
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