Stray Dogs Must Be Vaccinated, Released In Same Area: Supreme Court Modifies Previous Order

The Supreme Court has imposed a stay on the prohibition on the release of stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR. The court also said that the dogs being released shall be dewormed, vaccinated, etc and sent back to the same area from where they were picked up.

In doing so, the Supreme Court modified its previous order by a two-judge Bench. The earlier order had directed authorities to immediately pick up stray dogs from all neighbourhoods, establish shelters or dog pounds, and submit a compliance report within eight weeks. It also warned of strict action against anyone obstructing the process.

“Those dogs with aggressive behaviour or with rabies shall be immunised,” said the three-judge Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria hearing the case on Friday.

Justice Vikram Nath further said: “All similar matters shall be transferred to this court for a final national policy. After the last hearing, we have suggested some modifications.”

That decision sparked a wave of protests across the country, with animal welfare groups and dog lovers taking to the streets in opposition.

On August 14, the matter was heard by the special three-judge bench. The bench reserved its ruling, which has now been delivered.

During the previous hearing, the bench remarked that Delhi’s stray dog crisis stemmed from years of failure by local authorities to enforce the Animal Birth Control Rules, which mandate sterilisation and vaccination of street dogs.

Representing the Delhi government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that India recorded 37.15 lakh dog bite cases in 2024 alone — nearly 10,000 incidents every day. He further cited World Health Organisation data reporting 305 dog-bite-related deaths in India last year.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing animal welfare groups and other organisations urged the court to reconsider parts of the original directive, arguing that the sweeping relocation order required an immediate stay.

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