NEW DELHI । August 22,2025।SKY LINK TIMES
India’s Supreme Court has revised its order on Delhi’s stray dogs, permitting their release after vaccination and sterilisation, while banning public feeding.
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India on Friday modified its earlier directive on handling stray dogs in Delhi and its adjoining suburbs, following widespread protests from animal welfare groups.
The three-judge bench said that stray dogs should not be permanently confined to shelters but released back to their capture sites after being vaccinated and sterilised. However, dogs found to be rabid or showing aggressive behaviour would be immunised and kept in shelters.
The court also imposed a ban on feeding stray dogs in public spaces, instructing authorities to set up dedicated areas where such feeding can take place.
Background of the Case
On 11 August, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court had expressed concern over the rising “menace of dog bites leading to rabies” in Delhi and its suburbs. Municipal authorities estimate Delhi’s stray dog population at nearly one million, with growing numbers also reported in Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram.
Also Read: https://skylinktimes.in/supreme-court-orders-immediate-relocation-of-all-stray-dogs/
India accounts for 36% of global rabies-related deaths, according to the World Health Organization, with stray dogs being the primary carriers. In response, the court had initially ordered that all stray dogs in the National Capital Region be rounded up and placed in shelters within eight weeks.
That decision, however, clashed with existing rules which mandate that sterilised stray dogs must be released back to their original locations. Animal welfare organisations strongly opposed the blanket order, warning of overcrowding, inhumane treatment, and possible mass culling.
The New Ruling
Taking note of the concerns, the Supreme Court revised its stance. The bench clarified that:
Non-aggressive, non-infected dogs will be released after vaccination and sterilisation.
Aggressive or rabid dogs will be immunised and housed in shelters.
Public feeding of stray dogs is banned, with municipalities directed to create designated feeding zones.
Adoption of strays is allowed through municipal corporations, but adopted dogs cannot be returned to the streets.
The bench also warned animal welfare groups against obstructing the court’s orders and said violators would face legal action.
Reactions and Next Steps
Animal rights advocates welcomed the revised decision. Alokparna Sengupta, director of Humane World for Animals India, described the ruling as “balanced, structured and compassionate.” She, however, stressed the need for clear scientific criteria to define “aggressive dogs” to prevent misuse of the law.
The Supreme Court further announced that it would work on a national policy on stray dogs, after reviewing similar cases pending in various states.
For now, the ruling offers a middle path — seeking to reduce rabies risks while ensuring humane treatment of stray animals.
For More Info Stay Tuned: https://skylinktimes.in
