Delhi Stray Dogs: SC modifies earlier order; stray dogs to be released back to same areas after sterilisation, immunisation

22-Aug-2025

.

On 22 August the Supreme Court modified the August 11 order and ruled stray dogs will be released back to the same area after sterilisation and immunisation, except those infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour. 

On August 14, a special bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice NV Anjaria had reserved the decision after hearing arguments from all parties.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, in the previous hearing, representing the government, argued that there are many non-vegetarians who claim to be animal lovers.

Meanwhile, Kapil Sibal said that the matter should be resolved. Dogs from Delhi-NCR should be collected and sent to such shelter homes, which currently do not exist.

Order to send stray dogs to shelter homes in Delhi-NCR 

On August 11 a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, ordered that all stray dogs be removed from residential areas of Delhi-NCR and sent to shelter homes within 8 weeks, given dog bites and rabies cases. 

The court had warned of strict action against individuals obstructing this work.

Several people including dog lovers opposed to this order of the SC. Following this on August 13, Chief Justice BR Gavai stated that he would personally look into the matter in response to a petition by the Conference of Human Rights (India) NGO.

The matter was handed over to a special bench of 3 judges.

The Supreme Court took suo motu notice and held hearings twice

The SC decision was questioned by former Minister and animal activist Maneka Gandhi also. She also raised questions on this order of the Supreme Court. 

” There are three lakh stray dogs in Delhi. All of them will be caught and sent to shelter homes. To remove them from the streets, the Delhi government will have to build 1,000 or 2,000 shelter homes because too many dogs cannot be kept together”, Maneka Gandhi added.