Background & Initial Order
Earlier this month, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court mandated that all stray dogs in Delhi and its suburbs be relocated to shelters within eight weeks, citing rising incidents of dog bites and concerns over rabies. This sweeping directive ignited public outcry, as critics highlighted the insufficiency of shelter infrastructure and argued it edged away from humane, science-backed approaches.
Overturning the Ruling
Responding to widespread protests from animal welfare groups, activists, and public figures, a three-judge bench reconsidered the matter. On August 22, the court rescinded the blanket relocation order and instead directed that stray dogs be sterilised, immunised, and released back into the same localities from which they were picked up—except in cases involving rabid or aggressive animals.
Key Directives & Rationale
This revised order aims to strike a balance between public safety and animal welfare:
Sterilisation & Immunisation: All wild dogs must undergo vaccination and deworming before release.
Retention of Dangerous Animals: Dogs showing signs of rabies or aggressive behavior must remain in shelters.
Designated Feeding Zones: The Court instructed authorities to establish specific feeding points, effectively forbidding public feeding in uncontrolled areas.
Public Education & Inter-Agency Coordination: The verdict emphasized raising awareness and directed synchronized implementation among municipal bodies and NGOs.
Public and Political Reactions
The verdict sparked joy among animal lovers:
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi hailed the new approach as a progressive, science-rooted step.
Organizations like PETA India welcomed the verdict and encouraged adoption and sterilisation programs.
Statistics & Policy Implications
Some of the key figures and policy insights:
Stray Dog Population: India hosts approximately 52.5 million stray dogs, with Delhi alone estimated to have around 1 million.
Bite Cases: In January 2025, nearly 430,000 dog bite incidents were reported nationwide.
Rabies Alerts: From January to July 2025, Delhi recorded 49 rabies cases—though it’s unclear if all were linked to dog bites.
National Policy Framework: The Supreme Court extended the case’s scope to all states and UTs, signaling intent to formulate a uniform nationwide stray dog management policy.
Summary Table
| Aspect |
Original Order (Aug 11) |
Revised Order (Aug 22) |
| Dog Relocation |
Mandated to shelters within 8 weeks |
Released back post sterilisation and immunisation |
| Exceptions |
None specified |
Keeps out rabid/aggressive dogs |
| Feeding |
Unregulated public feeding |
Prohibited; dedicated feeding zones enforced |
| Scope |
Delhi-NCR only |
To be expanded to entire country via uniform policy |
| Reception |
Criticised by activists, politicians |
Widely welcomed as humane and balanced |
Summary
India’s Supreme Court has reversed its earlier order to move all stray dogs in Delhi to shelters. Instead, the court ruled that strays must be sterilised, vaccinated, and released back into their original areas, except for rabid or dangerously aggressive dogs. It also directed authorities to set up designated feeding zones and expand the policy nationwide.
