The Supreme Court on Thursday modified its earlier directive on the management of stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region, ruling that captured dogs must be released back into their original territories after sterilisation and immunisation, except those infected with rabies or displaying aggressive behaviour.
The three-judge Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria issued the order in the suo motu case “In Re: City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”, while also stressing the creation of dedicated feeding zones and restricting unregulated public feeding.
Expanding the scope, the Court directed all state governments and Union Territories to frame a pan-India policy on stray dogs and proposed transferring similar petitions pending in various High Courts to the Supreme Court.
The Bench upheld its earlier stance that anyone obstructing the removal or management of stray dogs would face strict legal action. It further imposed a deposit requirement for interventions: Rs. 25,000 for individual dog lovers and Rs. 2 lakh for NGOs, aiming to prevent frivolous petitions.
The revised order comes after a two-judge Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan had instructed municipal authorities, including NDMC, MCD, and civic bodies in Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, to immediately capture and relocate stray dogs to shelters. That order, citing rising rabies risk and public safety concerns, described the situation as “grim,” particularly for children, women, and the elderly.
The earlier directive had sparked controversy, as critics argued it conflicted with a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that barred the killing of stray animals and emphasised constitutional values of compassion. In response, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai constituted a larger three-judge Bench to review the matter.
Thursday’s judgment aims to strike a balance between public safety and animal welfare, allowing humane treatment of stray dogs while ensuring population control and disease prevention through sterilisation and immunisation. Authorities are expected to follow the revised guidelines, while ensuring stricter monitoring and adherence to the Court’s framework.
