Stray Dogs Supreme Court Hearing Highlights: SC declines to modify directive to remove stray dogs from public places

The Supreme Court has directed that the issue of stray dog management will now be monitored by respective High Courts across the country. It said all High Courts should initiate suo motu proceedings to ensure compliance with its directions on the issue.

The Court observed that pan-India monitoring by the Supreme Court would not be effective given the nature and scale of the problem. It added that High Courts are better placed to carry out timely and detailed supervision, taking into account the specific conditions and requirements of each region.
 

Referring to repeated attacks, the Supreme Court noted that children, senior citizens and even foreign tourists have been injured in stray dog incidents. It said the issue goes beyond statistics and has serious humanitarian implications.

The Court also observed that in the absence of effective state action, vulnerable groups cannot be left to face such risks, and reiterated that it is the responsibility of authorities to ensure public safety and protection of life.
 

The Supreme Court observed that the situation reflects a serious lapse in public safety and animal control measures. It noted that despite earlier directions, significant shortcomings persist in implementation.

The court stressed that negligence in duty would be viewed seriously and said it cannot ignore ground realities where repeated incidents continue to be reported.

The Supreme Court was also informed that stray dog incidents have now spread to sensitive public locations. As many as 31 dog bite cases were reported at various terminals of Delhi’s IGI Airport, with concerns raised over the presence of aggressive stray dogs even within airport premises and runway areas.

According to reports cited during the proceedings, Rajasthan recorded 1,483 cases in Sri Ganganagar city alone over a three-month period, while Udaipur reported over 1,700 cases in 2026.

Tamil Nadu was also flagged, with nearly 2.4 lakh dog bite cases reported in 2026. Reports further stated that 71,000 cases and 34 deaths were recorded in March alone.

In its decision, the Supreme Court noted that available statistics show a steady increase in stray dog bite incidents across India. It referred to reports highlighting the scale of the problem in several states.

The Supreme Court made it clear that it will not modify its earlier directions on shifting stray dogs from highways, hospitals, schools and other institutional and public areas, reiterating its stance on the issue.

The Supreme Court has rejected petitions filed by dog lovers and animal welfare organisations and refused to change its November 7 directive ordering the removal of stray dogs from public spaces.

The Supreme Court’s verdict today is expected to settle key legal questions over the balance between animal welfare protections under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the fundamental right to life and safety of citizens under Article 21 of the Constitution. It is also likely to shape a uniform nationwide policy on stray dog management, an issue that has become increasingly politically and socially contentious across urban India.

The Supreme Court also took note of alarming national figures on dog bite cases. During the proceedings earlier this year, it was informed that India recorded nearly 37 lakh dog bite incidents in 2024, while several states continued to lack adequate sterilisation infrastructure despite growing public health concerns.

During hearings earlier this year, the Supreme Court expressed sharp dissatisfaction with several states for their failure to expand sterilisation capacity and establish adequate Animal Birth Control centres. At one stage, the Bench observed that governments were “building castles in the air” instead of taking concrete steps to curb the stray dog population and address the growing rabies threat.

The high-profile stray dog management case stems from a suo motu proceeding initiated last year after reports of rising dog bite and rabies cases, particularly involving children, raised serious concern. The issue escalated into a national controversy after an earlier two-judge bench of the Supreme Court directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to round up stray dogs and relocate them to shelters and pounds.

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The judgment will be delivered by a three-judge Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria. The verdict follows months of hearings involving state governments, municipal bodies, animal rights groups, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). The Bench had reserved its verdict on January 29 after hearing extensive submissions from all stakeholders.