Supreme Court orders removal of stray dogs from Delhi-NCR, calls for fencing of public spaces

November 7, 2025 by News Desk

Expressing concern over the “alarming rise” in dog-bite cases, the Supreme Court on Friday directed authorities to ensure that public institutions and key installations such as schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations are properly fenced to prevent the entry of stray dogs.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria issued the order while hearing the suo motu case on the stray dog menace, originally initiated in July this year after the Court took cognisance of a Times of India report titled “In a city hounded by strays, kids pay price.”

The Court said local self-government bodies would be responsible for capturing stray dogs from these sensitive areas and shifting them to designated animal shelters after vaccination and sterilisation under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.

The bench further directed that local bodies conduct regular inspections to ensure that no stray dog colonies exist within public premises.

“It shall be the duty of the concerned local bodies to take preventive measures and ensure that educational and health institutions are free from the presence of stray dogs,” the Court observed.

The bench also ordered the removal of stray cattle and other animals from roads and highways to ensure the safety of commuters.

Earlier, on August 11, a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan had directed the Delhi-NCR authorities, including those in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad, to begin relocating stray dogs to shelters within eight weeks and to bar their release back into residential areas.

The directive was issued in light of increasing incidents of dog bites and rabies cases across the region.

However, following widespread concern from animal welfare groups and municipal authorities over the practicality and legality of the blanket removal order, the Supreme Court modified its earlier directive on August 22, clarifying that only aggressive or rabid dogs should be permanently housed in shelters, while sterilised and vaccinated dogs could be returned to their original localities in accordance with the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023.

The Court noted that the safety of citizens, particularly children, must be balanced with the rights and welfare of animals.

It warned, however, that any individual or organisation obstructing official efforts to capture aggressive dogs could face legal consequences, including contempt proceedings.

The Supreme Court’s intervention has reignited a nationwide debate over urban animal management, as local bodies continue to struggle with the rising population of stray dogs.

Delhi alone is estimated to have over one million stray dogs, while official data show that India reported more than 20 lakh dog b

ite cases in 2023.