The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a series of petitions challenging its controversial August 11, 2023, directive mandating the rounding up of all stray animals in the Delhi-NCR region. The three-judge bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, sharply criticised local authorities for their failure to act on the ongoing stray dog crisis.
“Parliament makes laws, but they are not being implemented. Local authorities are failing in their duties. They should be here to take responsibility,” the bench observed during the hearing.
While the court expressed concern over the issue, it stopped short of staying the earlier order issued by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, which instructed civic bodies to remove all stray dogs and relocate them to shelters within eight weeks. The directive had triggered public backlash, prompting the Chief Justice of India to reassign the case to a new bench.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the bench said it would consider whether interim relief or an urgent stay on the August 11 order was warranted. “On one side, we have human suffering; on the other, animal welfare advocates. A balance must be found,” the court remarked.
Centre Supports Stray Dog Relocation Order
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, backed the August 11 order, citing serious public health concerns. He referred to a “silent suffering majority” impacted by stray dog attacks, contrasting them with what he described as a “loud vocal minority” of animal activists.
“Sterilisation doesn’t stop dogs from attacking or spreading rabies. Even if vaccinated, dogs can still maul children,” Mehta argued. Citing World Health Organization (WHO) data, he said India records approximately 305 rabies deaths annually—mostly involving children under 15. He also noted that around 37 lakh dog bite cases occur each year, averaging 10,000 per day.
“Dogs don’t need to be killed, but they must be separated. Parents are afraid to let their children play outside,” he added.
Petitioners Push Back: ‘Follow Existing Laws’
Opposing the government’s stand, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing NGO Project Kindness, urged the court to pause the implementation of the August 11 order. He pointed to the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, which mandate sterilising and vaccinating stray dogs before releasing them back to their original locations.
“This is the first time I’ve heard the Solicitor General argue that laws exist but don’t need to be followed,” Sibal said. He questioned whether municipal authorities had built proper shelter facilities and accused them of misusing allocated funds.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi echoed similar concerns, saying the August 11 directive was unworkable in the absence of shelter infrastructure. “This is putting the cart before the horse,” he said, citing parliamentary data that recorded zero rabies deaths in Delhi from 2022 to 2024.
“Dog bites are certainly a concern, but we must not create a climate of fear and panic,” Singhvi cautioned.
What’s Next
The Supreme Court has reserved its decision on whether to temporarily pause the August 11 order. Until then, the directive remains in effect, leaving civic bodies and animal welfare groups in a state of uncertainty.
