New Delhi, August 11, 2025 – In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has mandated the immediate capture and relocation of all stray dogs in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) to dedicated shelters. The directive, issued on Monday, aims to address the escalating concerns over dog bite incidents and rabies-related deaths, prioritizing public safety while ensuring humane treatment of animals. Authorities have been given an eight-week deadline to implement the order, which includes sterilizing stray dogs and preventing their release back into residential areas or public spaces.

Background: A Growing Public Safety Concern

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the issue following alarming media reports, including a tragic incident involving the death of a six-year-old girl, Chavi Sharma, due to rabies from a dog bite in Delhi. Official data from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) highlights the severity of the issue, with 35,198 animal bite cases reported in the capital between January and June 2025, alongside 49 confirmed rabies cases. With Delhi’s stray dog population estimated at nearly 10 lakh, of which only 4.7 lakh have been sterilized as of 2023, the court described the situation as “extremely grim.”

The bench, comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, emphasized the need to protect vulnerable groups, particularly infants and young children, from stray dog attacks. “Infants and young children should not, at any cost, fall prey to such stray dogs,” the court stated, underscoring that the directive serves the larger public interest with “no sentiments involved.”

Key Directives of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court’s order outlines a comprehensive plan to tackle the stray dog menace in Delhi-NCR, including the following key measures:

1. Capture and Relocation: All civic bodies in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad are directed to round up stray dogs within eight weeks and relocate them to designated shelters. The court explicitly stated that no stray dogs should be released back onto the streets, challenging the existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which mandate releasing sterilized dogs to their original locations.
2. Shelter Infrastructure: Authorities must establish shelters equipped with adequate staff for sterilization, vaccination, and long-term care. Shelters will be monitored by CCTV to prevent escapes or unauthorized releases. The court mandated the creation of facilities for at least 5,000 dogs initially, with plans for further expansion.
3. Dedicated Helpline: The New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and MCD are tasked with setting up a dedicated helpline within one week to report dog bite incidents. Authorities must act within four hours of receiving complaints to capture the involved dogs.
4. Legal Consequences for Obstruction: The court warned that any individual or organization obstructing the relocation process will face strict legal action, including contempt proceedings. This directive addresses potential resistance from animal rights groups.
5. Vaccination and Sterilization: All captured dogs must be sterilized and vaccinated against rabies to curb population growth and disease transmission. The MCD has already initiated a pilot project across 12 constituencies to achieve 70-80% sterilization coverage, considered the threshold for breaking the breeding cycle.

Controversy and Animal Welfare Concerns

The Supreme Court’s order has sparked a heated debate, with animal welfare organizations like PETA India and the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) criticizing the move as “unscientific” and potentially disruptive. Dr. Mini Aravindan of PETA India argued that forced displacement of Delhi’s estimated 10 lakh stray dogs could lead to chaos, increase territorial conflicts, and undermine decades of rabies control efforts. “Had the Delhi government implemented an effective sterilization program, there would hardly be any dogs on the road today,” she stated.

FIAPO’s CEO, Bharati Ramachandran, highlighted that mass removal contradicts global best practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). These organizations advocate for mass sterilization and vaccination over relocation, citing the “vacuum effect” where unvaccinated dogs replace removed ones, potentially increasing rabies risks.

The court, however, dismissed objections from animal activists, with Justice Pardiwala questioning, “Will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies?” The bench emphasized that public safety takes precedence, urging authorities to “forget the rules” temporarily to address the crisis.

Delhi’s Response and Implementation Plan

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has outlined a multi-pronged strategy to comply with the court’s directive:

• Sterilization Drive: Aiming for 70% sterilization coverage within six to eight months in targeted constituencies.
• Shelter Expansion: Plans to build 20 new shelters within existing sterilization centers to house aggressive or bite-prone dogs.
• Dog Census and Tracking: Conducting a stray dog census and microchipping sterilized dogs for better tracking and accountability.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Engaging NGOs, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), veterinarians, and animal welfare experts to develop and oversee the policy.

The Delhi government is also seeking amendments to the ABC Rules, 2023, to allow permanent sheltering of aggressive dogs, a move currently prohibited under existing laws. Delhi Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra hailed the court’s order as a step toward making the capital “free from the fear of rabies and stray animals,” while assuring that the welfare of stray dogs will be prioritized.

Global Context: Lessons from Other Nations

The Supreme Court’s directive aligns with strategies adopted by some countries to manage stray dog populations. The Netherlands, for instance, achieved near-zero stray dogs through a national catch-neuter-vaccinate-return (CNVR) program, strict ownership laws, and adoption incentives. Similarly, Thailand and Bhutan have successfully reduced dog bite incidents through mass sterilization and vaccination campaigns. China’s approach, combining mandatory rabies vaccination and “civilized dog-keeping” rules, has resulted in zero human rabies cases in Beijing since 2021. These global examples suggest that sustained investment in sterilization, vaccination, and public education is critical for long-term success.

However, India’s infrastructure faces challenges, with patchy sterilization coverage and limited veterinary capacity. In Chennai, only 27% of stray dogs were sterilized in 2024, and Delhi’s 21 ABC centers fall short of the required capacity to handle the city’s stray dog population effectively.

Implications for Delhi Residents

If implemented effectively, the Supreme Court’s directive could transform Delhi-NCR’s streets by:

• Reducing Dog Bites and Rabies: A significant decrease in the 35,000+ dog bite cases reported in 2025.
• Enhancing Public Safety: Creating safer environments for children and the elderly, who are most vulnerable to stray dog attacks.
• Improving Animal Welfare: Providing stray dogs with proper care in shelters while controlling population growth through sterilization.
• Streamlining Reporting: A dedicated helpline to ensure swift action on dog bite complaints.

Challenges Ahead

The ambitious eight-week timeline poses logistical challenges, including the need for substantial funding, land, and trained personnel to build and manage shelters. Animal welfare experts warn that rushed implementation could lead to overcrowding, inadequate care, and increased suffering for dogs. The conflict between the court’s order and existing ABC Rules also places municipal bodies in a legal dilemma, as they must balance compliance with constitutional obligations to treat animals humanely.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s directive marks a pivotal moment in addressing Delhi-NCR’s stray dog crisis, balancing public safety with animal welfare. While the order has ignited controversy among animal rights groups, it reflects the urgency of tackling a public health crisis fueled by rising dog bite incidents and rabies fatalities. As Delhi authorities race to meet the eight-week deadline, collaboration between civic bodies, NGOs, and residents will be crucial to achieving a humane and sustainable solution.

Stay tuned to Bharat Tone for the latest updates on this developing story and its impact on Delhi-NCR residents.

Keywords: Supreme Court, stray dogs, Delhi-NCR, public safety, rabies, dog bites, shelters, sterilization, helpline, animal welfare, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Animal Birth Control Rules.