SC’S VERDICT ON STRAY DOGS

SC’S VERDICT ON STRAY DOGS

19-MAY-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI------------------------In a previous hearing, the Supreme Court had also stated that if a person dies or is critically injured in an attack by stray dogs, responsibility for the incident could be fixed not only upon municipal bodies but also upon those who feed the dogs.

While hearing arguments regarding the rising number of stray dog ​​attacks across the country and the associated safety concerns, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday dismissed all petitions filed in the matter. These petitions had sought a directive that stray dogs captured from hospitals, schools, bus stands, and other public places should not be released back into the same localities after undergoing sterilization and vaccination.

The case was heard by a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice N. V. Anjaria. During the hearing, the Court observed that the harm caused by stray dogs cannot be assessed solely on the basis of statistics. The Court further remarked that, despite the directives issued on August 22 and November 7, 2025, there is no clear evidence on record to demonstrate that these orders have been effectively implemented at the ground level. The final hearing in this matter took place on January 29, following which the Court had reserved its verdict. During the hearings, the States, the National Highway Authority of India, and...

In a previous hearing, the Supreme Court had also stated that if a person dies or is critically injured in an attack by stray dogs, responsibility for the incident could be fixed not only upon municipal bodies but also upon those who feed the dogs. The Court had explicitly stated that it would be erroneous to take its observations lightly, and that it would not hesitate to fix responsibility in instances where the local administration has failed to discharge its duties.

This matter originated on July 28, 2025, when the Supreme Court took *suo motu* (on its own) cognizance of the stray dog ​​attacks and resulting fatalities occurring across the country. Subsequently, on August 11, 2025, the court directed that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be captured and sent to shelter homes within eight weeks.

However, following protests lodged against this order, the court modified its directive on August 22, 2025. The court stated that dogs found to be neither infected with rabies nor aggressive could be released back into the same locality from which they were captured, following sterilization and vaccination.

Later, the scope of this matter was expanded to cover the entire country. On November 7, 2025, issuing an interim order, the Supreme Court directed the states and the NHAI to remove stray animals from the vicinity of highways, hospitals, schools, and other public institutions.