Supreme Court Directs Removal Of Stray Dogs And Cattle From Specific Locations
The Supreme Court on Friday directed specific areas to be cleared of stray dogs following the rising incidents of dog biting. As per the SC directives, all educational institutions, hospitals, public sports complexes, bus stands, depots, and railway stations should be properly fenced to prevent the entry of stray dogs.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria passed the order in the suo motu Stray Dogs matter.
The top court ordered that the dogs picked up from these areas must not be released to the same spot.
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The Court directs local self-government bodies to capture stray dogs from these areas and move them to designated shelters after vaccination and sterilisation, following the Animal Birth Control Rules.
The Court also passed directives for the removal of stray cattle and other animals from roads and highways.
On July 28, a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan took suo motu cognisance of the rising cases of stray dog bites. Notably, The Times of India reported, titled “In a city hounded by strays, kids pay the price.”
On August 11, the bench expressed serious concerns about the “menace of dog bites/rabies” and passed directions for Delhi government authorities to relocate the dogs to shelters while barring their release. The apex court ordered the authorities in the National Capital Territory of Delhi to immediately start picking up stray dogs from all localities and shift them to dog shelters.
A nationwide protest erupted, leading to clashes between animal rights activists, dog lovers, and police.
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Later, the suo motu case was reassigned to a three-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath on August 13.
The following day, on August 14, the three-judge bench heard the matter and reserved its order on whether to stay the August 11 directions. Subsequently, on August 22, the bench stayed the orders issued by Justice Pardiwala’s bench, observing that “the direction given in the order dated 11th August, 2025, prohibiting the release of treated and vaccinated dogs seems to be too harsh.”
