Stray Dog Order Too Harsh, Says Supreme Court as It Revises Earlier Directive

The Supreme Court on Friday acknowledged that its earlier order mandating the removal of all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR may have been too severe. Revising its August 11 directive, the court said that stray dogs should be released back into their original areas after undergoing sterilisation and vaccination—unless they are rabid or exhibit aggressive behaviour.

“The direction given in the order dated August 11, 2025, prohibiting the release of treated and vaccinated dogs seems to be too harsh, in our opinion,” said a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria.

The court also raised concerns about the practical implementation of a blanket order to relocate all strays, stressing the need to first assess the capacity and resources of municipal authorities.

“A blanket direction to pick up all the strays and place them in dog shelters or pounds without evaluating existing infrastructure may lead to a catch-22 situation. Such directions could be impossible to comply with,” the bench observed.

Feeding Ban in Public Spaces

In its revised order, the court directed local municipal bodies to identify and set up designated feeding zones for stray dogs within each ward. It made it clear that feeding stray dogs in public spaces such as streets and parks would not be permitted under any circumstances.

“If violated, action will be taken under the law,” the court said, instructing authorities to also establish helplines for citizens to report violations.

Warning Against Obstruction

The court cautioned individuals and organisations against interfering with municipal staff involved in managing stray dogs. Public servants facing obstruction are free to take legal action, and any NGO or animal lover found causing disruption may be fined ₹25,000.

The August 11 Directive

The earlier order, passed by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, had directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and civic agencies in Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad to round up all stray dogs within eight weeks. The dogs were to be housed in shelters with a capacity of at least 5,000 animals, with no provision for releasing them back onto the streets.

The order had sparked significant backlash from animal welfare groups and dog lovers, eventually leading to the matter being reassigned to a new three-judge bench, which issued Friday’s revised directions.