Supreme Court Acts on Growing Dog Bite Crisis
The Supreme Court of India has taken a firm stand on the increasing number of dog bite incidents across the country. Concerned about the “alarming rise in dog bite cases,” the Court has issued strict directions to protect citizens, especially children and hospital patients.
A three-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath, with Justices Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria, handled the suo motu Stray Dogs matter. The judges directed local self-government bodies to remove stray dogs from public spaces like schools, hospitals, bus stands, depots, and railway stations. These areas must have proper fencing to prevent stray dog entry.
Responsibilities of Local Authorities
Municipal and local bodies must pick up stray dogs from these zones and transfer them to designated shelters. Before relocation, the dogs must receive vaccination, sterilization, and deworming under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.
The Court clarified that the dogs taken from sensitive areas should not return to the same spots. Doing so, the judges said, would defeat the purpose of creating safe public environments.
Senior advocates Anand Grover and Karuna Nundy urged the Court to reconsider. They argued that removing dogs might attract new strays to the area. The bench disagreed, stating that citizen safety takes precedence.
Local bodies must also inspect these zones regularly to ensure that no new stray populations appear on the premises.
Court Expands Focus to Stray Cattle
The Supreme Court also targeted another public safety issue: stray cattle on highways and expressways. It upheld earlier directions from the Rajasthan High Court and asked all states to run joint drives to clear the roads. The animals must go to goshalas or shelter homes.
The judges made Chief Secretaries of every state and union territory personally responsible for compliance. If they fail, the Court warned, they could face legal consequences. Each state must file a report within eight weeks explaining how they are enforcing the orders.
Background of the Case
The Court first took suo motu cognizance in July 2025 after a Times of India report titled “In a City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price.” The report described severe dog attacks on children, which prompted the judiciary to act.
Initially, a bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala directed Delhi authorities to move stray dogs to shelters without releasing them. Later, another bench found that rule too harsh since it clashed with the ABC Rules. Those rules require that sterilized and vaccinated dogs return to their original territory unless they are aggressive or rabid.
