The Supreme Court today addressed the alarming rise in dog-bite incidents and issued sweeping directions concerning stray dogs.

With the focus keyword stray dogs at the heart of this order, the court held that every educational institution, hospital, bus stand, depot, railway station and public sports complex must henceforth be properly fenced to prevent entry of stray dogs.

It is now the responsibility of the relevant local self-government bodies to pick up stray dogs found within those premises/areas and shift them to designated dog shelters after vaccination and sterilisation, in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules.

Importantly, the court directed that stray dogs removed from those areas must not be released back to the same spot: permitting such release

“would frustrate the very purpose of liberating such institutions from the presence of stray dogs”.

The court further mandated that periodic inspections be carried out by the local bodies to ensure that no habitual stray dog habitat exists within such premises.

Simultaneously, the bench extended its reach beyond just stray dogs: it ordered the removal of stray cattle and other animals from roads and highways, recognising the broader risk posed by unfenced or uncontrolled animal presence.

Background & Legal Context

On 28 July, a two-judge bench took suo moto cognisance of media reporting on the “alarming rise” of stray dog bites in children and public spaces, including a report titled “City hounded by strays, kids pay price”.

A fortnight later, on 11 August, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed authorities in the National Capital Region (including Delhi, Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad) to immediately pick up stray dogs and shift them into shelters, explicitly barring release back to the streets.

Following sustained criticism of the practicality and scientific basis of such sweeping relocation, a larger three-judge bench (Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria) stepped in and modified the earlier direction: adopting the established “vaccinate-sterilise-release” approach of the AB C Rules, they held that stray dogs picked up must be released back to the same area except those showing signs of rabies infection or aggressive behaviour.

The court has now granted nationwide application of these directions: all States and Union Territories, Secretaries of Animal Husbandry departments, local bodies and municipal corporations have been impleaded and held responsible for compliance.

Chief Secretaries of the States/UTs (except West Bengal & Telangana) were summoned for non-compliance in filing affidavits on steps taken under the ABC Rules.

Key Directions with Focus on Stray Dogs

• All schools, hospitals, bus stands, depots, railway stations and public sports complexes must be fenced to exclude stray dogs.
• Local bodies must pick up stray dogs from such premises/areas.
• After vaccination and sterilisation under the Animal Birth Control Rules, those dogs must be shifted to designated shelters.
• Stray dogs removed must not be released back into the same area from which they were picked up when the removal is under these specified premises.
• Periodic inspections must be made to ensure no stray dog habitat is allowed to establish in those premises.
• Removal of stray cattle and other animals from roads/highways was also directed as part of the broader animal menace control.
• The nationwide rollout: all States/UTs, municipal corporations have been notified and made parties to ensure uniform enforcement.

Parties & Bench Details

• Case Title: In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”, Suo Moto SMW(C) No. 5/2025.
• Bench for initial direction (11 Aug): Justices J B Pardiwala & R Mahadevan.
• Larger three-judge bench for nationwide and modified directions: Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta & N.V. Anjaria.
• The focus remains on stray dogs and how they are managed in public institutions.

Follow The Legal QnA For More Updates…