The Supreme Court of India has modified its earlier directions regarding the handling of stray dogs in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The matter began when the Court took suo moto cognizance of a Times of India report titled “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”, after a six-year-old girl died of rabies following a dog bite.
Background of the Case
On 28 July 2025, the Court initiated proceedings considering the rising cases of dog bites and public safety concerns. By its order on 11 August 2025, the Court directed authorities in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad to capture stray dogs, sterilize, vaccinate, and house them in shelters without releasing them back on the streets. The order warned of strict action against authorities showing negligence.
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However, several NGOs and animal welfare activists challenged these directions, arguing they violated the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which mandate that sterilized and vaccinated dogs be returned to their original locations. They also raised concerns about possible culling due to lack of infrastructure.
- Animal welfare groups argued that keeping all dogs in shelters was impossible due to space and resource limits.
- They feared many stray dogs, including puppies, could be killed in the name of compliance.
- They claimed harassment of individuals feeding stray dogs and violation of their right to free expression under Article 19.
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On the other hand, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Government, highlighted that India recorded over 37 lakh dog bite cases in 2024. He stressed that sterilization alone would not prevent attacks and that urgent measures were necessary to protect children, elderly citizens, and vulnerable groups.
“The directions of this Court are essential interim measures required to safeguard the Right to Life of citizens under Article 21,” the Solicitor General submitted.
After considering all arguments, a three-judge bench led by Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria issued revised guidelines on 22 August 2025:
- Municipal authorities must continue rounding up and sterilizing stray dogs.
- Dogs that are sterilized and vaccinated must be released back to their localities, except rabid or aggressive ones, which must remain in shelters.
- Dedicated feeding zones must be created in each municipal ward, and feeding on streets will not be allowed.
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- NGOs and individuals obstructing implementation may face prosecution.
- Animal lovers and NGOs who approached the Court must deposit ₹25,000 and ₹2 lakh respectively, to support stray dog infrastructure.
- Citizens can adopt stray dogs through municipal bodies, ensuring they do not return to the streets.
- The matter has been expanded nationwide, with all States and Union Territories directed to submit compliance reports on the ABC Rules, 2023 within eight weeks.
Case Title: In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”
Case Type: Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5 of 2025, along with connected Writ Petition (Civil) No. 784 of 2025, SLP (Civil) No. 14763 of 2024, and SLP (Civil) No. 17623 of 2025.
Date of Order: 22 August 2025
