"In the interest of humans as well as dogs": Why Supreme Court ordered rounding up of stray dogs in Delhi NCR

The Supreme Court on August 13 uploaded its order in the suo motu case on the stray dog menace in Delhi NCR, directing the immediate removal of stray dogs from all localities and their relocation to shelters without any release back onto the streets [In Re: "City hounded by strays, kids pay the price"].

A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan has observed that the menace of dog bites directly infringes the fundamental rights of citizens under Articles 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution.

The Court has noted that over 25,000 dog bite cases were reported in Delhi in 2024, with over 3,000 in January 2025 alone, and that sterilisation rules had failed to control the problem over the past two decades.

“The burning issue that we have embarked upon is not driven by a momentary impulse…Now is not the time for any resistance or hesitation born of complacency. It is a time for decisive and collective action and to confront the realities of our society. If we fail to act with urgency, we risk allowing yet another two decades to slip into the ledger of neglect, leaving future generations to inherit the same problems and the same dangers," the order stated.

What weighed heavily with the Court was the plight of visually impaired persons, young children, elderly persons and people from humble backgrounds who fall victim to stray dog bites.

"The visually impaired persons are at the highest risk of dog bites as their primary support, their canes, are seen as threats by the dogs. Young children are susceptible to dog bites due to which parents find it very difficult to allow their children to navigate on streets on their own. We have come across concerns of elderly persons being attacked by rambunctious dogs...More particularly, the situation is worse when it comes to persons who are forced to sleep on the streets."

While urging citizens to adopt stray dogs, the Court also frowned upon "virtue signalling" by animals lovers.

"A virtual divide is being attempted to be created between ‘animal lovers’ and persons indifferent towards animals. But the heart of the problem remains unanswered, for all practical reasons. As a court, our heart pains equally for everyone. We condemn those who, beneath the cloak of “love and care” for the voiceless, pursue the warmth of self-congratulation. The directions given by us, as a court which functions for the welfare of the people, are both in the interest of humans as well as dogs. This is not personal."

The following are the directions passed by the Court:

1. Immediate removal of strays:

   - The Delhi government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council and authorities of NOIDA, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad must begin rounding up stray dogs from all localities, especially vulnerable and outskirts areas.

   - A dedicated “force” may be created for this purpose.

   - Captured dogs are to be sterilised, immunised and de-wormed.

2. No re-release to streets:

   - Stray dogs must not be released back into public spaces under any circumstances.

3. Creation of shelters:

   - Dog shelters/pounds must be established across NCR within 8 weeks.

   - Initial capacity should be for at least 5,000 dogs, to be expanded over time.

   - Shelters must have personnel, CCTV monitoring, adequate food, and medical

4. Animal welfare safeguards:

   - No mistreatment or cruelty permitted.

   - Overcrowding must be avoided; vulnerable dogs should be housed separately.

5. Adoption rules:

   - Adoption may be permitted under the Animal Welfare Board’s 2022 protocol, with no re-release to streets.

6. Helpline and rapid response:

   - Helpline number to be set up within 1 week for reporting dog bites.

   - Dogs involved must be caught within 4 hours of complaint.

7. Vaccination data:

   - Delhi government to publish details of rabies vaccine availability, stock, and monthly treatment numbers

8. Enforcement:

   - Any obstruction by individuals or organisations will be treated as contempt of court.

9. Transfer of related case:

   - Delhi High Court matter on dog shelter construction (Parthima Devi v. MCD) to be transferred to Supreme Court.

[Read Order]