Animal rights groups welcomed the apex court’s move, calling it a lifeline for community dogs under threat of indefinite confinement.
BY PC Bureau
August 21, 2025: The Supreme Court on Friday gave a new lease of life to stray dogs, staying an August 11 order of a two-judge bench that had barred the release of canines picked up from the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR).
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria clarified that stray dogs must be released after sterilisation and immunisation, except those infected with rabies or showing aggressive behaviour.
The Court also restricted public feeding of stray dogs, directing authorities to designate dedicated feeding zones. Reiterating that no individual or organisation may obstruct municipal authorities in carrying out their duties under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, the bench expanded the case beyond Delhi-NCR to cover all States and Union Territories. The Court also decided to transfer similar cases pending in various High Courts to itself in order to frame a pan-India policy.
The Supreme Court today(August 22) stayed the direction passed by a two-judge bench on August 11 that stray dogs, which are picked up from the Delhi National Capital Region, must not be released.
Read more: https://t.co/APZSIln40c#SupremeCourt #StrayDogs #Delhi #dogs pic.twitter.com/ChYjxWvknZ— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) August 22, 2025
The matter has seen several turns. On August 11, a two-judge bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, acting on a suo motu petition, had ordered that stray dogs in Delhi be rounded up and housed in shelters without release. That order was based on suggestions from Senior Advocate and amicus Gaurav Agarwal, following news reports on rising dog-bite cases.
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The bench had directed the Delhi government, MCD, and NDMC to set up shelters for 5,000 dogs within 6–8 weeks, monitor them with CCTV, create a helpline to report dog bites, and ensure captured dogs were never released. It also warned of contempt proceedings against individuals or organisations obstructing the drive.
However, on August 13, the case was reassigned to the present three-judge bench after lawyers pointed out that the August 11 order conflicted with previous Supreme Court rulings. On August 14, the bench heard arguments and reserved orders, leading to today’s stay.
The Court’s latest order balances public safety concerns with established ABC Rules, while ensuring that humane sterilisation and vaccination protocols remain central to stray dog management.
