The Supreme Court will on Thursday resume hearings in the suo motu case “In Re: City hounded by strays, kids pay price”, with a larger three-judge Bench set to examine the contentious issue of stray dog relocation in Delhi-NCR.
The Bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria, will take up the matter amid growing public debate over an earlier directive ordering the immediate capture and relocation of stray dogs.
Earlier this week, a two-judge Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan directed municipal bodies in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad to move all stray dogs to designated shelters, citing “grave concern” over public safety and the rising incidence of rabies. The court described the situation as “grim” and urged urgent measures to protect vulnerable groups, warning of strict legal action against any group or individual obstructing the removal of animals.
The order sparked a wave of criticism from animal welfare activists, celebrities, and some political figures, who argued that Delhi and other NCR cities lack adequate infrastructure to carry out mass relocations within the given timeframe. Critics also warned that removing dogs from their territories would make way for new arrivals, and advocated instead for full implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, focusing on sterilisation and vaccination.
The controversy has since drawn national attention, with animal lovers flooding social media to express concern for the welfare of community dogs.
On Wednesday, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai remarked that the court would “look into” the matter after a lawyer mentioned a plea for sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs in Delhi. The lawyer cited a 2024 Supreme Court order led by Justice J.K. Maheshwari, which prohibited the killing of stray animals and recognised compassion towards all living beings as a constitutional value.
“But the other judge Bench has already passed orders. I will look into this,” CJI Gavai told the lawyer.
The relocation directive, and the upcoming hearing before a larger Bench, are expected to determine the legal and operational course for municipal bodies in managing the capital’s growing stray dog population while balancing public safety and animal welfare concerns.
