Supreme Court Refuses to Alter Orders on Stray Dog Relocation and Sterilisation
Top court says citizens have the right to live without fear of dog attacks, directs States to strengthen animal control infrastructure
NEW DELHI, May 19: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday refused to recall or modify its earlier directions regarding the relocation and sterilisation of stray dogs, observing that the right to live with dignity also includes the right to live without fear of dog attacks.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N. V. Anjaria dismissed multiple petitions challenging the standard operating procedures issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India for handling stray animals.
The apex court also issued fresh directions to States, Union Territories and statutory bodies, asking them to improve infrastructure and adopt coordinated measures to tackle the growing stray dog population across the country.
The bench observed that there has been a “discernible absence” of sustained and systematic efforts by several States and Union Territories to address the issue effectively. It noted that implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme remains uneven, underfunded and irregular in many regions.
Emphasising public safety, the court stated that citizens, especially children, elderly persons and international visitors, should not have to live under the threat of dog attacks. The judges remarked that courts cannot ignore the ground reality of rising dog-bite incidents reported from different parts of the country.
The Supreme Court directed authorities to strengthen sterilisation drives, vaccination programmes and shelter facilities to ensure effective management of stray dogs in urban and rural areas.
The matter relates to a batch of petitions seeking modification of the apex court’s November 7, 2025 order, which had directed authorities to relocate stray dogs found in sensitive public spaces such as schools, hospitals and railway stations after sterilisation and vaccination.
In that order, the court had instructed that stray dogs picked up from such areas should not be released back into the same localities. It had also ordered the removal of stray cattle and animals from national highways, expressways and state highways to prevent accidents and public safety risks.
During earlier hearings, the bench had expressed dissatisfaction over the compliance efforts made by Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu regarding implementation of the court’s directions.
The ongoing proceedings stem from a suo motu case initiated by the Supreme Court on July 28 last year following media reports highlighting increasing incidents of dog bites and rabies infections, particularly among children in the national capital.
The latest ruling is expected to push State governments and civic agencies toward stricter implementation of sterilisation and animal management policies while balancing public safety concerns with animal welfare regulations.
