The stray dog issue, a persistent problem in the Delhi-NCR region, is set to be addressed by the Supreme Court. The court will deliver its verdict on a plea challenging the removal of stray dogs from the region’s streets. A Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath will deliver its decision today on the issue of stray dogs. The judges will decide whether to suspend or continue with the Supreme Court’s earlier order, which had directed that stray dogs should be confined.
On August 21, 2025, a Supreme Court Bench declined to urgently hear the plea by an animal rights group. The plea argues that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was rounding up stray dogs despite the court having already reserved its judgment. This case was first taken up by a Bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala.
However, it was later reassigned by the Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai to a three-judge Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath. After a lawyer reminded the apex court about an earlier order passed on May 9, 2024, Chief Justice BR Gavai transferred the case from Justice J.B. Pardiwala’s Bench to a larger bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath. The direction passed in 2024 directed that stray dogs must be treated with compassion. The new Bench heard the matter in detail on August 14 and then reserved its judgment.
7 Key Points
- On August 11, the court noticed that dog bite and rabies cases were increasing, and some even led to deaths. A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan said stray dogs must be moved to shelters. The court gave 8 weeks’ time to complete this process.
- Apex court asked the authorities to create shelters for at least 5,000 dogs within the time. It also said that the shelters should have people knowledgeable about dogs and who can take care of their vaccination and sterilisation.
- Delhi government asked to start rounding up dogs, it shouldn’t release the captured dogs into public spaces.
- Bench said: “All these animal activists, will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies? We are not doing this for us, it is for public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. For the time being, forget the rules,”
- Activists and dog lovers argue that many of the dogs could be culled or die of disease in shelters. Protests were held across the country, and the order was challenged. The Chief Justice of India then intervened and referred the matter to a larger Bench of the Supreme Court.
- The stray dog order has divided opinion, with celebrities, politicians, and the public debating it widely.
- Activists say sterilisation, not relocation, is the only effective solution and warn shelters will be costly and ineffective.
- Delhi-NCR lacks the infrastructure for mass relocation, and the short deadline makes it unworkable.
- Govt data shows 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected rabies deaths in 2024.
