Mandatory Shift of Stray Dogs in Delhi-NCR to Animal Shelters: Decisive Directive by the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of India has issued a landmark order on August 11, 2025, mandating the immediate removal of stray dogs from residential areas in Delhi NCR. This decision comes in response to a surge in dog bite cases and rabies deaths, particularly in the national capital.
According to the World Health Organization, India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths, with nearly 60,000 lives claimed by the disease each year, primarily through dog bites. In Delhi alone, 49 rabies cases were reported between January and June this year, and as many as 35,198 animal bite incidents were reported during the same period.
The court, presided over by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, has ordered all stray dogs to be shifted away from residential localities and detained in specially created pounds. These shelters must have professionals who can handle dogs, carry out sterilisation and immunisation, and CCTVs must be installed to prevent dogs from escaping.
The court has also prohibited the adoption of stray dogs and their subsequent release into public spaces, citing concerns about individuals adopting dogs only to release them later. Anyone blocking the exercise of removing stray dogs may face action for contempt of court.
The Delhi government has agreed to implement the court's order promptly. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has already begun the process by picking up stray dogs, converting some Animal Birth Control centers into shelter homes, and identifying large land parcels for setting up large-scale shelters.
However, the order has faced significant backlash from animal rights activists, dog lovers, and political leaders. Some have raised concerns about the cruelty of blanket removal and advocated for shelter, sterilisation, vaccination, and community care instead. A larger Bench of three judges is yet to make a final decision on the stay of the order.
In light of the urgency, the court has emphasised the need for immediate steps to remove stray dogs from vulnerable localities in Delhi NCR. The civic authorities have been instructed to start picking up stray dogs from all localities, with a focus on vulnerable areas. The court has also directed the government of NCT Delhi to provide detailed information about the availability of rabies vaccines, including their stock and monthly usage.
As the situation stands on August 18, 2025, the court's order regarding stray dogs in Delhi NCR is highly controversial, facing legal challenges and public protests. The court will hear arguments only from the Centre and no petitions from dog lovers or other parties will be considered. However, the implementation of the order has already begun, with shelters being set up and dogs being relocated. The fate of the order remains uncertain as the larger Bench prepares to make a final decision.
[1] Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 [2] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/supreme-court-orders-shift-of-stray-dogs-from-delhi-ncr-shelters-to-be-set-up-1926207-2022-09-13 [3] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi/stray-dogs-removed-from-delhi-ncr-shelters-to-be-set-up/article66241661.ece
- Despite the controversy surrounding the Supreme Court's order on stray dogs in Delhi NCR, general news outlets have reported on the implementation of health-and-wellness measures, such as setting up shelters equipped with professionals for handling dogs, sterilization, and immunization, in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules of 2023. [Example: India Today]
- Medical-conditions, particularly rabies, remain a top concern for politics and policy-making, with the Supreme Court's order highlighting the surge in dog bite cases and rabies deaths in Delhi, accounting for 36% of global rabies deaths according to the World Health Organization. [Example: The Hindu]
- As discussions about crime and justice continue surrounding the removal of stray dogs, it remains crucial for the government to provide detailed information about the availability of rabies vaccines, including their stock and monthly usage, to ensure public safety and prevent rabies cases from further escalating. [Example: The Supreme Court's order]
