The Supreme Court of India is set to hear the batch of petitions concerning the stray dog menace before a new, specially constituted three-judge bench on Thursday. Chief Justice of India, B.R. Gavai, on Wednesday assured a counsel that he would look into the matter after concerns were raised regarding a recent order. Subsequently, the registry listed all connected matters, including a recent suo moto case initiated by a two-judge bench, for a consolidated hearing.
Case Background:
The Supreme Court has been seized of a batch of petitions for several years, dealing with the contentious issue of stray dogs across the country. The cases involve a conflict between the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and its subordinate legislation, the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, on one hand, and the powers and duties of municipal bodies under state laws to ensure public safety on the other. Various High Court orders have presented conflicting views, leading to a lack of a uniform national policy on managing the stray dog population and mitigating the risk of dog bites.
Recently, a division bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra had taken suo moto cognizance of the issue following reports of a tragic incident. The bench had proceeded to pass certain interim directions in the matter.
Court Proceedings:
During the mentioning of matters on Wednesday morning, a lawyer appearing in the case brought the issue to the attention of the bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai. The counsel expressed grievances regarding the latest order passed in the suo moto proceedings, highlighting the need for a comprehensive hearing on all pending matters to avoid conflicting judicial pronouncements.
Responding to the lawyer’s submissions, CJI Gavai stated, “I will look into the matter.”
Court’s Decision and Future Hearing:
Following the Chief Justice’s assurance, the Supreme Court registry issued a fresh cause list for Thursday, August 14, 2025. It has been notified that a new three-judge bench will now take up the entire batch of petitions concerning the stray dog issue.
Crucially, the suo moto writ petition that was initiated by the bench led by Justice Pardiwala has also been tagged and listed for hearing before this larger bench. The formation of the three-judge bench is seen as an effort by the apex court to authoritatively settle the legal questions involved and frame comprehensive guidelines to be implemented nationwide. The hearing is expected to address the balance between animal rights and the pressing concerns for human safety.
