The Supreme Court on Monday (October 27, 2025) took strong exception to the failure of several states and union territories to comply with its August 22 directives. The Court had mandated that stray dogs be released back into the localities from which they were captured, following sterilisation, deworming, and immunization.
On Monday, October 27, 2025, the Supreme Court took strong exception to the failure of several states and union territories to comply with its August 22 directives mandating that stray dogs be released into the localities from which they were captured, following sterilisation, deworming, and immunisation.
A three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria summoned the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories, except West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, to personally appear before the court on November 3 and explain why compliance affidavits had not been filed detailing steps taken to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
The bench also pointed out that no representative from the remaining states or union territories was present during the hearing. Expressing displeasure over the lack of compliance, Justice Nath remarked.
Changes in the Earlier Suo Motu Directive
The earlier suo motu directive required civic authorities in Delhi and four adjoining districts to capture all stray dogs and confine them in shelters within six to eight weeks. Terming the August 11 order as harsh, the bench had subsequently directed that the animals be released into the localities from which they were captured after undergoing sterilisation, deworming, and immunisation.
The court had further directed municipal authorities to set up dedicated feeding zones in every ward to ensure that no one faced any inconvenience.
The suo motu case had initially been heard by a bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala but was later assigned by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai to a three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath. The reassignment followed an oral mention on August 13, 2025, by a lawyer who apprised the CJI of a May 9, 2024, order mandating compassionate treatment of stray canines. The CJI withdrew the case from Justice Pardiwala’s bench and reassigned it to the bench led by Justice Nath.
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