New Delhi: In a significant ruling on public safety and animal management, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday dismissed petitions seeking changes to its earlier order directing authorities to remove stray dogs from streets and public spaces. The court reaffirmed that sterilised stray dogs cannot be released back into the same areas from where they were picked up.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice NV Anjaria stressed that citizens have the right to live without fear of dog attacks and said governments cannot ignore the growing threat posed by stray animals in public areas.
The court observed that children, elderly citizens, and even international visitors have increasingly become victims of dog bite incidents. It remarked that the Constitution does not support a situation where vulnerable people are forced to depend on physical strength or luck for their safety in public spaces.
Animal rights groups had challenged the November 2025 order, arguing that relocating stray dogs after sterilisation could disorient them and potentially increase aggression and attacks. However, the court rejected those arguments, stating that the petitions failed to provide convincing reasons to dilute existing regulations framed under the Animal Birth Control framework.
Describing the continued presence of stray dogs in public areas as alarming, the court directed all states and union territories to strictly enforce guidelines issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India. It also criticised authorities for failing to build sufficient infrastructure to address the issue despite earlier directions.
The court noted that sterilisation and vaccination drives have often been poorly planned and implemented without long term institutional support. According to the bench, this lack of foresight allowed the problem to escalate.
Among the key directions issued, the court instructed every state and union territory to establish at least one animal birth control centre in each district and ensure adequate stocks of anti rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins. Officials carrying out these duties were also granted protection from unnecessary police action while performing their responsibilities.
The ruling follows a series of earlier directions aimed at shifting stray dogs from residential areas to shelters equipped for vaccination, sterilisation, and proper care.
