Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday eased its earlier August 11 order that required all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to be rounded up and permanently placed in shelters. The bench observed that the blanket prohibition on releasing sterilised and vaccinated dogs back to their original areas was “too harsh” and not practical given existing infrastructure constraints.
Modified Directions on Stray Dog Management
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria ruled that sterilised and immunised dogs, except those with rabies or showing aggressive behaviour, must be released back into their original locations. The court clarified that impounding all strays without evaluating shelter capacity could create a “catch-22 situation,” making compliance impossible.
Feeding Zones and Public Safety
The municipal bodies have been directed to designate specific feeding areas in each ward while prohibiting feeding stray dogs in public spaces. Any violation will invite legal action, and authorities must set up helpline numbers to handle complaints. The court also warned that NGOs or individuals obstructing dog-catching drives would face penalties of ₹25,000 and possible proceedings under law.
Previous Order of August 11
The earlier order, passed by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, had instructed Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad civic agencies to round up all strays within eight weeks and confine them to shelters with a minimum capacity of 5,000 animals each. That order barred re-release of the animals on the streets, which has now been modified.
Looking Ahead
While the court’s latest ruling provides relief to NGOs and animal lovers, it still leaves open the challenge of handling “aggressive” dogs, a category yet to be clearly defined. The judgment underlines the need for balance—ensuring humane treatment of animals while maintaining public safety across urban neighbourhoods.
