The Supreme Court has issued a firm directive to authorities in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) to round up stray dogs and move them to designated shelters, citing growing concerns over public safety and animal management.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, a bench led by Justice R.K. Malhotra and Justice S. Banerjee said the increasing number of dog-bite incidents, coupled with unregulated street dog populations, required “immediate and coordinated intervention” from municipal bodies.
“Human safety cannot be compromised,” the bench stated. “While animal welfare is important, the state also has a duty to ensure that citizens can move freely and safely without fear of attack.”
The order comes in response to a series of petitions filed by residents’ associations in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram, who alleged that municipal authorities had failed to address the surge in stray dog attacks. Several high-profile incidents, including attacks on children and elderly pedestrians, have recently made headlines, prompting renewed public debate.
The court directed municipal corporations to work in coordination with registered animal welfare organisations to ensure that captured dogs are transferred to adequately equipped shelters, where they will receive food, medical care, and sterilisation. It further instructed the Animal Welfare Board of India to oversee the process and submit compliance reports every three months.
Animal rights groups have expressed mixed reactions to the ruling. While some welcomed the focus on proper sheltering and care, others voiced concerns over the potential for mishandling and overcrowding in underfunded facilities. “Relocation must be humane and in line with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” said Meera Khanna, spokesperson for the NGO Paws & Rights.
Municipal authorities now face the challenge of identifying sufficient shelter space in the already congested capital region. A senior official from the Delhi Municipal Corporation acknowledged that infrastructure upgrades and additional funding would be necessary to comply fully with the Supreme Court’s mandate.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for December, when the court will review the first set of compliance reports from Delhi-NCR municipalities.
