Supreme Court Orders All Stray Dogs in Delhi-NCR to Be Moved to Shelters Amid Rabies Concerns

August 11, 2025 MTIMES 41 Views animal rights vs public safety, civic bodies Delhi NCR, Delhi rabies cases, dog bite incidents India, rabies vaccine availability India, SC order on stray dogs, stray dog menace Delhi, Supreme Court stray dogs Delhi NCR 2 min read

In a major development, the Supreme Court stray dogs Delhi NCR order has mandated that all stray dogs be removed from residential areas and shifted to shelters. The court warned that any organisation or individual obstructing this process will face strict action.

The directive comes in response to rising dog bite incidents and rabies deaths in the national capital region, with official data showing 49 rabies cases and over 35,000 animal bite incidents between January and June this year.

Supreme Court Stray Dogs Delhi NCR: Public Safety Over Animal Activism

A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan is hearing the matter after taking suo motu note of media reports on the stray dog menace. The court made it clear that it would hear arguments only from the Centre and not from animal rights activists, stating, “We cannot sacrifice our children just because of a few dog lovers.”

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that a site had been identified for relocating stray dogs, but the plan stalled due to a stay obtained by animal rights groups. The court rejected adoption as a solution, citing the risk of dogs being released back on the streets.

Supreme Court Stray Dogs Delhi NCR: Strict Implementation and Monitoring

Civic bodies across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram have been ordered to set up shelters staffed with professionals for sterilisation, immunisation, and containment of dogs. The shelters must have CCTV cameras to prevent escapes, and a helpline must be launched to report dog bite cases.

The court emphasised that no stray dog—whether sterilised or not—should be released, and any violation will attract stern action. Authorities have also been told to publish detailed data on rabies vaccine availability and stock levels.

The Supreme Court observed that the situation is “grim” and directed immediate action, stating, “This should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs.”

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