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24-08-2025
Bureau Report
NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court modified its order on stray dogs on Friday, directing that those picked up from streets in and around Delhi be released after sterilization and immunization, after a storm of protests from animal lovers.
Earlier this month, the court ruled that all stray dogs in Delhi and its suburbs be moved to shelters following a surge in dog bites and cases of rabies. Critics of the ruling had said it could not be implemented because there were not enough shelters.
Many animal lovers took to the streets to protest against the order. Animal rights activists signed online petitions asking the court to revoke its decision.
The court ruling also drew criticism from politicians and celebrities. India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called it a “step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy”.
On Friday, the court said that dogs picked up in the past few weeks in Delhi and its suburbs would be released after sterilization and immunization, barring those showing aggressive behavior or signs of rabies infection.
Former federal minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi told media that she was happy with the “scientific decision” of relocating dogs back to their area. The court has not clarified what “an aggressive dog” is and this remains a grey area, she added.
In April, the government said nearly 430,000 cases of dog bites were reported nationwide in January, against 3.7 million cases in all of 2024.
India has 52.5 million stray dogs, a survey of homeless pets by Mars Petcare has shown, with 8 million canines in shelters.
Media reports suggest Delhi alone has 1 million stray dogs. Media could not independently verify the figure.
To curb public feeding of stray dogs, the court also directed the setting-up of designated zones. A three-judge panel of the court said the scope of the case would be expanded across India and the court would formulate a uniform policy for all stray dogs soon.
“On behalf of the community dogs we serve, we thank the three-judge bench for its decision,” animal rights group PETA India said on Friday, urging people to adopt dogs and support sterilization efforts.
On 11th of this month, Supreme Court ordered authorities in the capital Delhi and its suburbs on Monday to relocate all stray dogs to shelters within eight weeks, according to the Live Law website, after media reports of a rise in cases of rabies, especially among children.
The Indian government said in April that nearly 430,000 cases of dog bites had been reported across the country in January, compared with 3.7 million cases all through 2024. India has 52.5 million stray dogs, according to a State of Pet Homelessness survey by Mars Petcare, while 8 million homeless dogs are in shelters.
Local media reports suggest that Delhi alone has 1 million stray dogs. Reuters could not independently verify the number.
India’s top court took up the case after several reports in local media of stray dogs biting children in Delhi, with some turning fatal.
On Monday, Live Law reported that the court has asked authorities in Delhi to pick up stray dogs from across the city and move them to dog shelters.
“Infants and young children, should not at any cost, fall prey to rabies. The action should inspire confidence that they can move freely without fear of being bitten by stray dogs. No sentiment should be involved,” the court said, according to Live Law website.
