Citing a concerning surge in dog bite cases, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered that all educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations, and public sports complexes must be secured to prevent entry of stray dogs.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria passed the order in the ongoing suo motu case concerning stray dog control. The Court held that local self-government bodies are responsible for identifying strays in these premises, capturing them, and shifting them to authorized dog shelters. The animals must be vaccinated and sterilised under the Animal Birth Control Rules.

Importantly, the Bench directed that dogs once removed from these sensitive areas should not be released back to the same location, observing that returning them would “defeat the very objective of freeing such institutions from stray dog presence.” Local bodies must also conduct routine inspections to ensure that no stray dog colonies develop in these areas.

After pronouncement of the order, Senior Advocates Anand Grover and Karuna Nundy requested the Court to consider concerns that removed dogs would be replaced by new packs. The Bench, however, declined to entertain objections and moved ahead with the ruling.

The Court also issued nationwide directions to remove stray cattle and other animals from highways, roads and expressways. It upheld the Rajasthan High Court’s guidelines and ordered a joint enforcement drive across States/UTs. The animals are to be taken to goshalas or animal shelters.

The Court warned that Chief Secretaries will be personally liable if the directions are not followed. Compliance reports are to be filed within 8 weeks, detailing the operational mechanisms adopted.

On July 28, a Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan took suo motu cognizance based on a newspaper report titled “In a city hounded by strays, kids pay price”.

Early orders in August required Delhi and NCR authorities to pick up and shelter stray dogs, while prohibiting their release. Individuals obstructing these operations were warned of legal consequences.

However, due to conflicting orders on whether sterilized dogs should be returned to their original locations, the matter was transferred to a three-judge Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath. On August 22, that Bench modified the earlier direction, holding that except for rabid or aggressive dogs, sterilized and vaccinated strays should ordinarily be returned to the same locality under Rule 11(9) of the ABC Rules.

The Court also banned public feeding of stray dogs in open spaces and required creation of designated feeding zones. Later, the Court extended the case nationwide, impleading all States, UTs, Animal Husbandry Departments, and municipal bodies. It also sought to pull in similar High Court matters to eventually evolve a uniform national stray dog policy.

On October 27, the Court called Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs (except West Bengal & Telangana) for failing to file compliance affidavits. Even after a request for virtual appearance was made by SG Tushar Mehta, the Court refused, expressing dissatisfaction at the lack of seriousness by local and state authorities.

Case Title: IN RE: “CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE”, SMW(C) No. 5/2025