The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed surprise over the growing number of interlocutory applications being filed in the ongoing suo motu case on stray dog bites, remarking that even human-related cases don’t typically attract so many filings.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made the comment after two lawyers mentioned fresh applications in the matter. “So many applications normally don’t even come in cases of humans,” Justice Mehta observed, underlining the volume and intensity of public interest in the case.
The court noted that a three-judge special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria is scheduled to hear the matter on Wednesday. The bench assured the lawyers that all pending pleas—including a transfer petition—will be taken up for hearing.
The case stems from a suo motu initiative taken by the Supreme Court on July 28, 2023, in response to a media report highlighting the rising number of dog bite incidents, especially among children, in Delhi.
On November 7, 2025, the apex court issued a series of directions addressing the “alarming rise” in stray dog attacks, particularly within institutional zones such as schools, hospitals, railway stations, and sports complexes. The court termed the recurrence of such incidents a reflection of not just administrative apathy but also a “systemic failure” to safeguard public spaces from preventable hazards.
Key Directives of the Court
- Immediate relocation of stray dogs from institutional areas to designated animal shelters, following proper sterilisation and vaccination protocols.
- The canines so picked up shall not be returned to the same areas from where they were removed.
- Authorities across states were also directed to clear highways and expressways of stray cattle and animals, citing safety concerns.
The case has attracted wide attention across the country, with stakeholders from multiple regions and sectors filing intervention and interlocutory applications, both in support of animal rights and in favour of stricter enforcement against dangerous strays.
As the matter continues to unfold, the Supreme Court’s latest observations reflect a growing concern over the volume and complexity of litigation in what was initially a narrowly focused public safety issue.
