SC on Stray Dogs: On August 14th of 2025, the Supreme Court of India delayed its ruling to either stay or uphold its order to remove all stray dogs from Delhi and the surrounding NCR areas to shelters.
The Removal Order of August 11th
Just a few days earlier, on August 11th, the Supreme Court issued an order by two judges for authorities to relocate all stray dogs in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad to permanent shelters.
Authorities received the order after a rise in bite cases and risk of rabies. Local authorities were given 8 weeks to complete the relocation and install and operate CCTV cameras in the shelter, or if they sabotage the process, they could face fines.
Protests and Public Outrage
There was considerable opposition to the order since animal welfare groups and citizens labelled it as cruel and impractical. Many called for humane solutions such as sterilization and vaccination.
Celebrities like actress Sonam Bajwa also expressed their sadness over the order. Animal activists noted that taking dogs from their home ranges disturbs local habitats and will exacerbate existing problems.
Court Criticizes Local Officials
Chief Justice B. R. Gavai directed the case to a three-judge bench: Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N. V. Anjaria.
At the start of the hearing, the bench sharply rebuked the municipal officials, saying the serious stray dog problem happened partly from their “inaction.” Justice Vikram Nath said the problem still existed because local authorities chose not to follow the proper services and management rules under the Animal Birth Control program.
Waiting for The Final Decision
The Court, after hearing both sides of the case, decided to reserve its order, meaning a decision would follow later. In the meantime, Delhi’s stray dogs remain in limbo.
This case is likely to provide guidance to other Indian cities on dealing with a surplus of stray animals, taking into account the competing interests of public health and safety against humane treatment of animals.
