Green Update
TreeTake Network
The Supreme Court on November 7, 2025, directed that all government institutions, including hospitals, public sports complexes, bus stands, depots, and railway stations, be properly fenced to prevent the entry of street dogs, taking note of the “alarming rise” in dog-bite incidents across the country. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria held that it would be the responsibility of the concerned local authorities to remove stray dogs from such premises and relocate them to designated shelters after vaccination and sterilisation in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and submit compliance reports within eight weeks, specifically detailing the remedial measures undertaken to secure adherence to the court’s directions. The Bench further directed that stray dogs captured from these areas must not be released back into the same locality. “Permitting the same would frustrate the very purpose of liberating such institutions from the presence of stray dogs,” the Bench said. During the November 3 hearing, the Bench had taken serious note of government employees feeding stray dogs within office premises, observing that such conduct violated its earlier directions mandating the establishment of designated feeding zones for canines. The observations were made during the court’s ongoing suo motu proceedings to evolve a national policy on stray dog management. The matter will be taken up again on January 13, 2026
All local self-government institutions have also been directed to ensure that the premises of such establishments are properly secured with fencing, boundary walls, and gates to prevent the ingress of stray animals. This will be preceded by a survey conducted by state governments, to be completed within two weeks, identifying all government and private educational institutions from where stray canines have to be removed. The Bench also mandated that each institution designate a nodal officer for upkeep and surveillance of each such premises. It has also ordered the conduct of regular inspections at least once every three months, to ensure that no stray canines exist within or in the immediate vicinity of such institutions. “Any lapse in this regard shall be viewed seriously, and responsibility shall be fixed upon the concerned officials/administrative authorities,” the Bench cautioned. The Bench also took on record the report filed by senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal, who is assisting the Bench as amicus curiae, and who had flagged “several grave deficiencies and shortcomings” in the implementation of the court’s earlier directions, particularly with respect to compliance with its August 22 order permitting the release of sterilised dogs back into their localities in accordance with the ABC Rules, except in cases involving rabid or aggressive animals.
The August 22 order had modified an earlier direction issued by a two-judge Bench, which had instructed civic authorities in Delhi and four adjoining districts to capture all stray dogs and keep them confined in shelters. The Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath had found such an absolute restriction “too harsh,” observing that it would run contrary to Rule 11(19) of the ABC Rules, which allows sterilised and vaccinated dogs to be released back into their original localities. With its latest directions, however, the Bench has carved out a specific exception for public spaces with high footfall while emphasising that the “primary objective” must be to safeguard the citizens’ fundamental right to life and safety. The Bench further directed that all government and private hospitals maintain a constant stock of anti-rabies vaccines. It also mandated the adoption of effective waste-management systems to eliminate food sources that attract stray animals.
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 within institutional premises. These SOPs, the court said, must be uniformly implemented across all States and Union Territories.
Notably, the Bench also acknowledged that accidents involving cattle and other stray animals on public roads and highways have become “alarmingly frequent.” It, therefore, directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and all transport and municipal authorities to ensure the removal of cattle and other stray animals from the highways. The court directed that all such animals be relocated to suitable shelters, gaushalas, or cattle pounds, where they are to be provided adequate food, water, and veterinary care.
It further instructed the authorities to establish dedicated highway patrol units to maintain continuous surveillance. These patrols, the court said, must function around the clock and display helpline numbers prominently along highways to enable commuters to promptly report the presence of stray animals or accidents caused by them. “The Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, together with the Chairperson, National Highways Authority of India, shall ensure strict enforcement of these directions through appropriate administrative orders and field-level monitoring. They shall hold the concerned officers personally accountable for lapses or recurring incidents in their respective jurisdictions,” the Bench ordered.
The suo motu proceedings stemmed from mounting public concern over a spate of dog-bite incidents, including the death of a six-year-old girl, which had prompted an earlier order by a Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan calling for the mass capture of stray dogs across Delhi and neighbouring districts without release. However, the directive drew sharp criticism from animal welfare groups, which warned that the measure would amount to cruelty and contravene statutory mandates. Subsequently, in a rare administrative step, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai withdrew the matter from Justice Pardiwala’s Bench and reassigned it to a three-judge Bench headed by Justice Nath.
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