SC Orders Removal of Stray Dogs in Delhi: ‘Shift to Shelters in 8 Weeks, Ensure Public Safety’
The Supreme Court on Monday directed Delhi’s civic agencies to identify, capture, sterilise, and permanently move stray dogs to shelters, stressing that the instructions must be enforced without delay to make the national capital safer.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the exercise should face “no compromise” and warned of strict action against individuals or groups obstructing municipal teams during the drive. “Authorities must decide how to execute this; if it requires forming a dedicated force, then it must be done,” the court said, calling it “the first and foremost step to ensure Delhi is free of stray dogs.”
The court particularly highlighted the safety of children, stating, “Infants and young children should not, at any cost, fall prey to stray dogs. Measures should inspire public confidence.”
Strict Timeline for Action
Delhi authorities have been ordered to establish fully equipped dog shelters — complete with adequate staffing and CCTV surveillance — within eight weeks. The bench made it clear that sterilised dogs should not be released back onto the streets.
The process of capturing 5,000 stray dogs is to begin within six weeks, starting in high-risk zones. Officials in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram must maintain daily records of captured animals, and any violation of the order against releasing them will attract serious consequences.
Warning to Animal Rights Activists
The court also took a stern view of past interventions by animal rights activists. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that a site had been identified for relocating strays, but the plan was stalled after activists secured a stay.
“All these animal activists — will they bring back those who have died from rabies? Streets must be made completely free of stray dogs,” Justice Pardiwala remarked, ruling out the possibility of adopting strays.
Helpline and Medical Measures
The NDMC and MCD have been directed to set up a dedicated helpline for dog-bite incidents, allowing residents to report cases directly to civic bodies. Government hospitals have also been instructed to maintain an adequate stock of rabies vaccines, with the court clarifying that such injections should only be administered in government facilities, not private hospitals.
The order comes after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance last month of the surge in stray dog attacks and fatalities, describing the trend as “alarming and disturbing.” The case was triggered by the reported death of a six-year-old girl in Delhi from rabies following a dog bite.
