Supreme Court Softens Stance on Stray Dogs, Calls Previous Order “Too Harsh”

In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday modified its earlier ruling on the management of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, calling its previous August 11 directive “too harsh.” The earlier order had instructed civic bodies to permanently house all stray dogs in shelters, which drew backlash from animal welfare organizations and created tension among residents.

A three-judge bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice NV Anjaria clarified that stray dogs should not be permanently confined but instead sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed, and released back into the same locality from which they were picked. The only exceptions will be dogs suffering from rabies, suspected rabies cases, or those displaying aggressive behaviour. Such dogs will be sterilised and immunised but housed separately in shelters.

The bench stressed the need for a humane and practical solution. It directed municipal bodies in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Gurugram to set up designated feeding zones in each ward, with clear signboards. These areas are to be created after assessing the density of stray dogs in the locality.

The judges admitted that the earlier decision had overlooked the limited capacity of municipal infrastructure and manpower to house thousands of stray dogs permanently. By amending its order, the court has now aimed for a balanced approach that ensures animal welfare while addressing public safety concerns.

Animal rights activists have welcomed the move, calling it a victory for compassion and practicality. Citizens, too, are hopeful that structured feeding areas and sterilisation drives will help reduce conflicts between humans and stray dogs, creating a safer and more harmonious coexistence in urban spaces.