Supreme Court Acknowledges Previous Stray Dog Order Was Excessively Harsh, Allows Conditional Release
New Delhi, India – August 22, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India today modified its controversial August 11, 2025, order on stray dog management in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), acknowledging that the previous directive prohibiting the release of treated and vaccinated stray dogs was “too harsh.” The revised ruling allows for the conditional release of sterilized and immunized stray dogs back to their original localities, except for those exhibiting aggressive behavior or infected with rabies, while imposing strict regulations on public feeding to address public safety concerns.
The initial order, issued by a two-judge bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan in a suo motu case triggered by a media report on stray dog attacks, mandated that municipal authorities round up all stray dogs within eight weeks and permanently relocate them to shelters. This directive, which aimed to make Delhi-NCR “stray dog-free” in response to rising dog bite incidents, sparked widespread protests from animal rights activists and drew criticism for its impracticality, given the estimated 10 lakh stray dogs in Delhi and the lack of adequate shelter infrastructure.
In today’s ruling, a three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria cited the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which mandate that sterilized and vaccinated stray dogs be returned to their original habitats to prevent shelter overcrowding and ensure humane treatment. “The direction given in the order dated 11th August, 2025, prohibiting the release of the treated and vaccinated dogs seems to be too harsh, in our opinion,” the bench stated, emphasizing the scientific basis of the ABC Rules.
The modified order directs municipal authorities to pick up stray dogs, sterilize, vaccinate, and deworm them, and then release them back to their original localities, except for dogs with rabies or aggressive tendencies, which must remain in shelters. The court also prohibited public feeding of stray dogs on streets, mandating that civic bodies like the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) create dedicated feeding zones in each municipal ward, marked by clear signage. Violators of the street-feeding ban will face legal consequences under the relevant framework.
The ruling expands the case’s scope nationwide, impleading all states and Union Territories to develop a uniform policy on stray dog management. The court has also transferred related cases pending in various High Courts to itself for a comprehensive hearing in eight weeks, aiming to establish a national framework.
The decision has been met with widespread approval from animal rights advocates and political figures. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called it a “progressive step” balancing animal welfare and public safety, while animal activist and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi praised its scientific grounding, noting that relocating dogs to unfamiliar areas after sterilization causes distress and undermines population control efforts. Animal lovers celebrated at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, with one activist describing the ruling as a “victory for compassion.”
However, some residents, particularly in areas like Noida, expressed disappointment, arguing that the original order better addressed public safety concerns. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, had previously cited 37.15 lakh dog bite cases nationwide in 2024, including 305 rabies-related deaths, to underscore the urgency of the issue.
The court also imposed financial requirements on intervenors, directing individual dog lovers and NGOs challenging the original order to deposit ₹25,000 and ₹2 lakh, respectively, to participate in future hearings, a move aimed at ensuring accountability.
Legal and animal welfare experts view the ruling as a pragmatic compromise, aligning with the ABC Rules while addressing public safety through regulated feeding and targeted sheltering of aggressive or rabid dogs. The case highlights ongoing tensions between human safety and animal welfare, with the court’s national approach signaling a potential shift toward standardized stray dog management across India.
Sources: Hindustan Times, The Hindu, LiveLaw, News18, Business Today, NDTV, The Economic Times, The Week, Bar and Bench, Deccan Herald