The Supreme Court on Friday revised its controversial August 8 directive on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, now allowing vaccinated and dewormed dogs to be returned to the areas they were originally picked up from—a decision welcomed by animal welfare groups. However, dogs showing signs of rabies or aggressive behavior must be kept in separate shelters after immunization, the court clarified.
Calling the earlier order “too harsh,” the bench stated, “Prohibition on release of strays shall be stayed. They should be dewormed, vaccinated and sent back to the same area.” The court also widened the case’s scope beyond Delhi-NCR, signaling its intention to create a nationwide policy on stray dog management.
The three-judge bench—comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria—issued several key modifications to the previous order, which had instructed civic bodies to round up all stray dogs within eight weeks and keep them in designated shelters.
This rare reassignment by the Chief Justice followed significant public backlash over the Justice Pardiwala-led bench’s earlier decision.
Key Changes and Court Observations:
Return of Strays: Dogs must be sterilized, vaccinated, and returned to their original location unless aggressive or rabid.
Shelter Capacity: The court warned that implementing the previous blanket order without assessing shelter infrastructure could lead to a “catch-22 situation.”
Feeding Ban: Public feeding of strays is prohibited. The court ordered that designated feeding zones be established and warned of action against violators.
Adoption Option: Individuals and animal lovers can apply to adopt stray dogs, but must ensure the animals are not returned to the streets.
Financial Deposit: Petitioners must deposit Rs 25,000, and NGOs Rs 2 lakh, as part of their appeal to the court.
The Supreme Court also stated it would take over similar petitions pending in other High Courts to streamline the process and create a uniform national policy on managing stray dogs.
Lawyer and petitioner Nanita Sharma called the revised order a step forward. She told a section of the media that it is a good order that clearly states that dogs need to be released back after sterilisation. The dogs have to be looked after by the authorities, she said, adding that she appeals to the authorities to be a bit more humane.
The issue gained widespread attention following the August 8 order that mandated all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be caught and confined to shelters, effectively banning their release. Civic bodies were given eight weeks to build facilities for at least 5,000 dogs and ensure proper welfare standards.
The court had argued the need for strict action due to a sharp rise in dog bite and rabies cases. According to government data, Delhi recorded over 25,000 dog bite cases in 2024, with more than 3,000 in January 2025 alone.
The original verdict drew fierce criticism from animal rights activists and NGOs, who pointed out that Delhi has an estimated 8 lakh stray dogs, and that existing shelters are insufficient to handle such large numbers.
Activists argued that the plan was logistically unfeasible and could lead to increased cruelty and suffering for the animals.
They also cited the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, which mandate that sterilised and vaccinated strays must be returned to their original locations, not permanently relocated or confined.
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