A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria was hearing a suo motu case and other pleas regarding stray dogs. It noted that authorities in Delhi-NCR have failed to act despite rules being framed by Parliament
The Supreme Court observed that the Animal Welfare Board of India, local authorities, and the government had failed to act. File pic
The Supreme Court on Thursday said the “whole problem” of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) stems from the “inaction” of local authorities, who have done “nothing” to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules concerning sterilisation and immunisation of canines, reported PTI. The top court reserved its verdict on an interim plea seeking a stay on its directions issued on August 11.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria was hearing a suo motu case and other pleas regarding stray dogs. It noted that authorities in Delhi-NCR have failed to act despite rules being framed by Parliament.
“The whole problem is because of inaction of the local authorities. You frame rules in Parliament. The government acts, rules are framed but no implementation is carried out creating problem which is standing today,” the bench said.
Highlighting the delicate balance between human safety and animal welfare, the bench added: “On the one hand, humans are suffering and on the other hand, the animal lovers want the animals also to be treated with dignity.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, cited official data, stating that India recorded around 37.15 lakh dog bite cases in 2024 — nearly 10,000 per day. Referring to a media report, he said the World Health Organization reported 305 dog-bite related deaths last year using government and other authentic sources.
The court observed that the Animal Welfare Board of India, local authorities, and the government had failed to act. “NGOs make a lot of noise but they don't know what they should actually be doing. They should have been here earlier for implementation of those rules (Animal Birth Control Rules). Nothing is happening,” it said.
The bench stressed that everyone filing intervention petitions must take responsibility.
On August 11, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had ordered authorities in Delhi-NCR to relocate all stray dogs from streets to shelters, starting with a facility for 5,000 animals. It warned of strict action against those obstructing the exercise and directed immediate creation of shelters or pounds, with progress reports due within eight weeks.
During Thursday’s hearing, Mehta urged urgent resolution of the issue, reported PTI.
“Children are dying,” he said, adding, “Please bear in mind a vocal minority view as against a silent suffering majority view.”
Mehta emphasised that the aim was humane management of strays.
“Nobody is an animal hater. Out of 100 species of snakes, only four are poisonous but we don't keep them in our house. Nobody says dogs are required to be killed. They have to be separated from the humans habitations,” he said, adding that the apex court would need to find a solution to the “menace of stray dogs.”
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi sought a stay on certain directions from the August 11 order, reported PTI. Sibal, appearing for an NGO, questioned why civic bodies had not sterilised dogs or built adequate shelters.
“The community feeds them. Now you say because the community is feeding them, take them out and put them in pounds or shelters. There are no shelters in place,” he said. He added that about 700 dogs had been picked up in the capital since the verdict and said, “Where they are, God alone knows.”
The bench responded: “Please tell us the part (of the order) which is offending. This matter has been listed today on an urgent mentioning before the chief justice and for constituting a special bench. So we are here.”
Singhvi, meanwhile, questioned the scale of the perceived crisis, citing parliamentary data showing zero rabies deaths in Delhi between 2022 and 2025. “But to try and create a horror situation that people left, right and centre are dying from rabies, at least the government should look at its own figures by its own minister on the floor of the House a few weeks ago,” he said.
Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, also supporting the interim stay, said the August 11 order could encourage high courts to issue similar directions elsewhere.
The bench also asked counsel for the Delhi government about compliance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and related enactments.
Widespread protests were reported across the country following the August 11 order. On August 13, petitioners in another stray-dogs case mentioned their plea before CJI B R Gavai, who said he “will look into it.”
(With PTI inputs)
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