New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday revised its earlier ruling on the management of stray dogs, bringing sweeping changes to its August 11 order that had prohibited the release of captured dogs in Delhi-NCR.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, with Justices Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria, clarified that strays caught by civic authorities must be sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed, and then released back into the same locality. However, dogs infected with rabies, suspected rabies, or showing aggressive behaviour will not be returned to the streets. Instead, they will be kept in shelters or dog pounds after receiving treatment.
The court extended these directions across all States and Union Territories, noting that pending stray dog cases in various High Courts would be transferred to the apex court for the framing of a national policy.
The bench directed municipal bodies to build shelters and dog pounds, establish feeding zones in every ward with proper signage, and set up helplines for violations. Feeding stray dogs on public roads has been barred, with violators facing action. The order also made it clear that no person or group can obstruct municipal workers during dog-catching operations, warning that interference will invite legal consequences.
Animal lovers wishing to adopt strays may apply through local authorities, but the responsibility of care and preventing the animal’s return to the streets will rest with the adopter. The court further ordered NGOs and individuals involved in the case to deposit sums of ₹2 lakh and ₹25,000, respectively, to be used for creating dog-care infrastructure.
Justice Nath, while delivering the order, said a holistic approach was needed to balance public safety and humane treatment of animals, stressing that unregulated feeding on streets often triggers conflicts. The matter will remain under Supreme Court monitoring as it works toward a uniform nationwide framework for stray dog management.
