Supreme Court Orders Urgent Stray Dog Removal Drive in Delhi-NCR: A Decades-Old Menace Under Legal Scrutiny

August 13, 2025

Background of the Case

The Supreme Court of India, in a suo motu writ petition titled "City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price", has issued strong directives to authorities in the Delhi-NCR region to immediately address the escalating menace of stray dog attacks. The apex court’s intervention came after noting that concerned civic bodies had failed for over two decades to effectively control the issue, despite repeated incidents of dog bites, rabies deaths, and public outcry.

The case, initiated on the basis of a media report, aims to protect both public safety and animal welfare, while ensuring no further delays in resolving a long-standing urban crisis.

Court’s Observations

The bench, comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadev, stressed that the order was neither a "momentary impulse" nor a response to "popular sentiment," but the result of thorough judicial deliberation.

The court made it clear:

The directive is in the interest of both humans and dogs.
Authorities’ inaction over decades amounts to systematic governance failure.
Public spaces must be safe for children, elderly citizens, visually impaired individuals, and economically disadvantaged groups, many of whom face the highest risk from aggressive strays.

Grim Statistics on Dog Bites

Data presented by the Amicus Curiae from the Press Information Bureau revealed alarming figures:

Nationwide (2024): 37,15,713 reported dog bite cases.
Delhi (2024): 25,201 dog bite cases.
Delhi (January 2025 alone): 3,196 dog bite cases.

The court expressed concern that no effective containment strategy had been executed, even as the scale of the problem worsened.

Supreme Court Directives

The SC issued a multi-step, time-bound action plan:

Immediate Stray Dog Removal
- All localities in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad must be cleared of stray dogs.
- Captured dogs must not be released back on the streets.
Shelter Creation Within 8 Weeks
- Establish dedicated dog shelters/pounds with an initial capacity of 5,000 dogs, expandable over time.
- Mandatory CCTV monitoring, veterinary facilities, and adequate food supply.
Medical and Legal Compliance
- All captured dogs to be sterilised, immunised, and dewormed.
- Adoption allowed only under Animal Welfare Board’s 2022 protocol.
Humane Treatment
- Strict prohibition on cruelty or overcrowding in shelters.
- Vulnerable dogs to be housed separately.

Concerns Over Vulnerable Populations

The court noted that:

Visually impaired individuals face high risks as their mobility aids may be perceived as threats by dogs.
Children are often targeted, restricting their freedom to walk or play independently.
Homeless individuals sleeping on streets are especially exposed, lacking both awareness and access to post-bite medical treatment.

Next Legal Steps

The case has now been referred to a three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, which will continue hearings. Authorities have been instructed to submit compliance reports to ensure transparency and accountability.