Outlook Business Desk
The Supreme Court of India revised its earlier order to clear Delhi's streets of stray dogs by putting them in shelter homes, on 22 August, 2025. The revised order now allows sterilised, vaccinated, and de-wormed stray dogs to remain in their local areas in Delhi-NCR. Only rabid or aggressive dogs will be moved to shelters.
On 11 August, an SC bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan had asked officials in Delhi and the National Capital Region to start relocating stray dogs from neighbourhoods into designated shelters as soon as possible. They also directed the setting up of facilities for 5,000 dogs and asked for a progress update within eight weeks.
The order was issued suo motu (on its own, without anyone filing a case) after media reports highlighted a sharp rise in dog-bite cases and rabies deaths, especially among children. Public health concerns pushed the bench to intervene, calling it a growing urban crisis needing urgent steps.
The relocation order sparked protests across the capital city. Animal rights activists and local communities said moving so many dogs was unrealistic and cruel. They pointed out that current rules focus on sterilising and vaccinating stray dogs rather than removing them completely.
On 14 August, a three-judge special bench heard petitions seeking a temporary halt to the stray dog relocation order and reserved its decision. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Delhi, highlighted that India recorded over 37.15 lakh dog-bite cases in 2024, averaging nearly 10,000 daily, with World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting over 300 rabies deaths.
The special bench also noted that the stray dog crisis worsened due to poor municipal management and lack of ABC sterilisation and vaccination. Animal welfare lawyers also cautioned that mass relocation could harm ecosystems and shelters, urging the court to prioritise sterilisation and vaccination as safe, effective, and humane solutions.
After the Supreme Court’s revised order, political leaders welcomed the judgment, saying it corrected the previous “inhumane” directive. MP Priyanka Chaturvedi told ANI that stray dogs should now be neutered, vaccinated, and provided designated feeding zones.
In a post on X (formely twitter), Rahul Gandhi welcomed the Supreme Court’s revised stray dog order, calling it a progressive move that balances animal welfare with public safety. He added that the approach is compassionate, practical, and guided by scientific reasoning.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi president, Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised the Delhi government and MCD for failing to manage stray dogs properly. He welcomed the Supreme Court’s revised order, emphasising that it is the MCD’s duty to capture and immunise stray dogs, and noted that timely immunisation had not been carried out, putting public safety at risk.