Remove stray dogs from public places, says SC
POLITY – JUDICIARY
8 NOVEMBER 2025
- Expressing concern over the “disturbing increase” in dog-bite incidents across the country, the Supreme Court directed all the States and the Union Territories to “forthwith” remove stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and depots, and railway stations, and relocate them “to a designated shelter”.
- The dogs have to be sterilised and vaccinated in accordance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 before relocation.
- The directions were issued in the suo motu proceedings aimed at framing a national framework for stray dog management and ensuring compliance with existing regulations.
- Placing the responsibility of implementation on local bodies, the court directed the respective municipal authorities to ensure the immediate removal of stray dogs and to submit compliance reports within eight weeks, detailing the remedial measures undertaken to secure adherence to the court’s directions.
- It called for creation of designated feeding zones in each municipal ward; feeding stray dogs in public spaces generally is prohibited.
- Senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal, who is assisting the Bench as amicus curiae.
- Additionally, the Animal Welfare Board of India, which is a party to the proceedings, was instructed to frame comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the prevention of dog bites and the management of stray dogs.
- These SOPs, the court said, must be uniformly implemented across all States and Union Territories.
