The Supreme Court on Friday modified its earlier directive on the handling of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, permitting their release back to the same localities after sterilisation and immunisation.
A three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria ruled that only rabies-infected or aggressive dogs should be kept in shelters or pounds after treatment, while others must be returned to their original areas.
The court also prohibited public feeding of stray dogs on streets, directing municipal authorities to establish dedicated feeding zones in every ward. Notice boards will be placed to clearly indicate such feeding points. Individuals violating this order may face legal action.
Municipal bodies have also been asked to set up helplines for reporting violations, with action to be taken against individuals or NGOs found disobeying the directive. The court emphasised that no person or group should obstruct its implementation, warning that interference could lead to prosecution.
Animal lovers wishing to adopt street dogs may apply to the municipal authorities, but will be responsible for ensuring the adopted dogs do not return to the streets. The bench also directed individual petitioners and NGOs to deposit Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh respectively, with the funds to be used for creating infrastructure for stray dog management.
Expanding the scope beyond NCR, the apex court impleaded all states and Union Territories, seeking responses from their Animal Husbandry Departments on framing a national policy to tackle the stray dog issue. It also called for transfer of similar pending cases from High Courts to the Supreme Court.
The fresh order modifies the court’s August 11 directive that had mandated removal of all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR and prohibited their release. The bench noted that while the problem of dog bites is a pressing public safety issue—with over 37 lakh reported cases nationwide and more than 25,000 in Delhi alone—solutions must balance human safety with animal welfare.
