Today, 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.

The Supreme Court was hearing the 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.

The Bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan observed, “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.”

The Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Respondents, emphasised the plight of parents whose children had died due to rabies.

Upon which Justice Pardiwala said, “First and foremost step need to be taken, according to us,...round up all stray dogs from all localities and shift them to any other place,... we will have to launch a drive with some Force to round up all these stray dogs, whether sterilized or not, society should be free, you should not find a single stray dog, anywhere in the city, that’s the first step.”

Mehta further submitted that the rabies has no cure in medicine, thus, many children died and parents were helpless as Doctors have no cure.

Justice Pardiwala again emphasised that the first direction from the Court would be to start picking up all stray dogs at the earliest in all possible manners and shift them.

Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra tried to intervene, however, Justice Pardiwala refused and remarked, “All intervention applications are rejected, we will not hear anyone in the larger interest of the public...remember we are not doing it for ourselves, we are doing for the people at large. No sentiments of any nature should be involved in these kinds of litigation.”

Advocate Gaurav Aggarwal, Amicus in the matter, submitted various possible directions that can be given by the Court to deal with the issue in hand related to dog-bites and the resultant deaths of children.

Upon hearing the suggestions, Justice Pardiwala recorded in the Order, “The situation is extremely grim, immediate steps need to be taken to take care of the menace of dog bites leading to rabies.”

Following directions, among others, were given by the Supreme Court:

1. The State of NCT of Delhi, MCD, and the NDMC was directed to immediately create dog shelters/ pounds and report to the Supreme Court on the creation of such infrastructure all over the State of NCT of Delhi within eight weeks. Such dog shelters were directed to have specialised personnel for looking after the stray dogs. The Dog shelters will also be monitored by CCTV to ensure that dogs are not released.

2. The State of NCT, the MCD, and the NDMC was further directed to start picking up stray dogs from all localities, more particularly the vulnerable localities of the city as well as areas on the outskirts, how to do it, was for the Authorities to decide. "For this, if they have to create a Force, they shall do it at the earliest. However, this should be the first and foremost exercise to make the city… free from stray dogs.", the Court said.

3. All the authorities are directed to maintain daily records of dogs, captured and housed in shelter homes/dog pounds.

4. Not a single dog picked up shall be released back on the streets/public spaces.

5. To create a helpline, so that all cases of dog bites are immediately reported and action must be taken within four hours from the time the complaint has been received.

Further, the Supreme Court ordered that if any individual or any organisation would come in the way of such Force, the Court would proceed for contempt of court against any such resistance.

“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.

The Supreme court continued to record in its Order, “The said dog shall be captured, sterilized, and immunized as required by rules and as noted above shall not be released under any circumstances.”

Accordingly, the report on the said directions will be submitted to the Court on the next date of hearing.

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, “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.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court took Suo-moto cognizance.

Cause Title: In Re: “City Hounded By Strays, Kids Pay Price” (SMW(C) No. 5/2025 PIL-W )

Justice JB PardiwalaJustice R. Mahadevan

Pridhi Chopra

    Pridhi Chopra was earlier practicing as an Advocate in Delhi. She pursued B.A. (H) English from Gargi College, University of Delhi, and subsequently pursued a degree in Law.