The Supreme Court on Thursday criticised local authorities for their failure to address the growing stray dog problem in Delhi-NCR. The court reserved its order on an interim plea seeking a stay on its August 11 directions to remove stray dogs from public areas and shift them to shelters.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath made strong observations during the hearing. “The whole problem is because of the inaction of local authorities,” the bench said. The panel also included Justices Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria.
The bench noted that all petitioners and intervenors in the case must take responsibility for the issue.
August 11 Directions Spark Debate
On August 11, a two-judge bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had ordered Delhi-NCR authorities to begin picking up stray dogs from all localities “at the earliest” and relocate them to shelters. The bench also directed the creation of dog shelters within eight weeks and asked for a compliance report.
It had ruled that stray dogs must be kept in shelters and not released back onto streets, colonies, or public places. The order came while hearing a suo motu case initiated on July 28 over rising incidents of dog bites leading to rabies, especially among children.
Delhi Government Highlights Public Health Risk
During Thursday’s hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, stressed the urgent need to tackle the stray dog menace. He told the bench that over 37 lakh dog bites are reported annually in India.
“Children are dying due to dog bites causing rabies, and the issue of stray dogs needs to be resolved and not to be contested,” Mehta said. He added, “Nobody is an animal hater.”
NGO Seeks Stay on August 11 Order
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for an NGO that works for dog welfare. He called the situation “very serious” but urged the court to allow a detailed argument on the matter.
ALSO READ: Karnataka MLC SL Bhojegowda Admits Killing 2,800 Stray Dogs, Sparks Debate
Sibal sought a stay on parts of the August 11 order, particularly the directions to pick up stray dogs from all Delhi-NCR localities at the earliest. He argued that the issue required careful consideration before implementing measures that could affect animal welfare.
Balancing Public Safety and Animal Welfare
Animal rights organisations and public safety activists are debating the matter. NGOs emphasize the need for long-term compassionate solutions like sterilization and vaccination campaigns, which authorities contend that removing stray dogs is crucial to preventing rabies and bite cases.
The court’s August 11 directions also included an instruction to set up adequate infrastructure for shelters and provide updates within eight weeks.
The Supreme Court has reserved its order on the interim plea and is expected to announce its decision soon. The outcome could shape Delhi-NCR’s approach to managing its large stray dog population, which has been at the centre of both public health concerns and animal rights campaigns.
MUST READ: 8 Weeks, 10 Lakh Stray Dogs: Can Delhi Pull Off the Supreme Court’s Toughest Mandate?
