New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday upheld its earlier directives regarding stray dogs, refusing to modify previous orders that mandated the removal of stray dogs from public places and their relocation to shelter homes.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N. V. Anjaria stated that the court’s 2025 order on stray dogs would continue to remain in force.
The court also dismissed all applications filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India seeking changes to the previous directions.
Supreme Court Says Stray Dog Issue Linked to Public Safety
During the hearing, the Supreme Court observed that the stray dog issue is directly connected to public health and safety concerns, especially in view of increasing dog bite and rabies cases reported across the country.
“The issue of stray dog attacks is serious. Many people have died due to rabies,” the court observed.
The bench stressed that state governments must properly implement animal birth control measures and continue sterilisation and vaccination programmes while ensuring public safety.
The court refused to dilute its earlier directives and reiterated that stray dogs captured from public spaces should be shifted to designated shelter homes.
Earlier Supreme Court Orders on Stray Dogs Remain Effective
In August 2025, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justices J. B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan had directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to remove stray dogs from roads and public places and relocate them to shelters.
The court had also ordered that sterilised and vaccinated dogs should not be released back onto the streets and warned of legal action against individuals obstructing the process.
Later, in November 2025, the apex court expanded the order nationwide and directed all states and the National Highways Authority of India to ensure removal of stray dogs from areas including schools, hospitals, colleges, bus stands, railway stations and playgrounds.
The court had additionally instructed authorities to construct boundary walls around educational and medical institutions to prevent stray dog entry.
Nationwide Debate Over Stray Dog Control Intensifies
The stray dog issue has triggered intense debate across India in recent years, balancing concerns over public safety with animal rights and welfare.
Several petitions filed before the Supreme Court demanded strict measures to address the increasing number of stray dog attacks, especially involving children.
At the same time, animal rights activists argued for humane sterilisation and vaccination measures within legal frameworks.
The Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on January 29 after hearing arguments from all concerned parties and had sought written submissions due to the seriousness of the matter.
The ruling is expected to significantly influence future stray dog control policies and implementation measures across states.
