SC Reserves Order on Pleas Against Stray Dog Round-Up in Delhi NCR; No Stay on August 11 Directions

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on multiple petitions challenging its August 11 directive mandating the rounding up of all stray dogs in the Delhi NCR region. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria declined to stay the earlier directions to municipal bodies.

Centre’s Stand: Silent Majority vs Vocal Minority

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, argued that the issue of stray dog attacks affected a “silent majority” while a “vocal minority” opposed intervention. Citing WHO data of 305 annual rabies deaths—most among children under 15—he said:

“Dogs do not have to be killed, they have to be separated… Parents cannot send children out to play. Young girls are mutilated.”
Mehta maintained that sterilisation had not prevented rabies and that the Court needed to step in given the absence of a solution in current rules.

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Petitioners’ Objections: Infrastructure and Process Gaps

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing NGO Project Kindness, sought a stay on the order, pointing to the lack of shelters and alleged siphoning of sterilisation funds. He said the August 11 directions were issued suo motu without notice, and warned that without adequate facilities, rounded-up dogs could be culled or harmed.
Senior Advocates Sidharth Luthra, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Siddhartha Dave, Aman Lekhi, and Colin Gonsalves also opposed the order, stressing that existing infrastructure could not accommodate the thousands of dogs to be captured. Singhvi argued there were “zero rabies deaths in Delhi” according to parliamentary data and cautioned against creating “a horror situation.”

Arguments in Support of the Order

Another counsel, supporting the August 11 ruling, said medical evidence of severe dog attack injuries had been placed on record, pointing out that there was one stray dog for every 24 individuals in the region.

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Court’s Observations

Justice Nath emphasised that while Parliament had framed rules, implementation was lacking. He directed all intervenors to file affidavits and furnish supporting evidence, remarking:

“On one hand, humans are suffering and on the other, animal lovers are here. Have some responsibility.”

The August 11 Order

The earlier Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had, in a suo motu case, ordered the capture of stray dogs, prioritising vulnerable areas, and the creation of shelters for at least 5,000 dogs within eight weeks. The order prohibited re-release of dogs to the streets, mandated sterilisation, immunisation, and de-worming, and called for CCTV-monitored shelters with adequate staff, food, and medical care.
It also directed the setting up of a helpline, immediate capture of offending dogs, and monthly publication of vaccination and treatment data. Obstruction of these measures was to attract contempt proceedings.

The August 11 ruling had cited over 25,000 reported dog bite cases in Delhi in 2024 and more than 3,000 in January 2025 alone, holding that the menace violated citizens’ rights under Articles 19(1)(d) and 21. The order drew sharp protests from animal rights groups.

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On August 14, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai re-assigned the matter to the present three-judge Bench to avoid conflicting directions from different benches. The Court will now pronounce its decision on the pleas in due course.

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