SC orders release of stray dogs after vaccination, bans feeding in public places

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Friday revised its August 11 direction prohibiting the release of stray dogs from dog shelters in Delhi-NCR, and said the picked up canines should be sterilised, vaccinated and released back in the same area.

The apex court opined that the "direction given in the order dated 11th August, 2025, prohibiting the release of the treated and vaccinated dogs seems to be too harsh."

It noted that Rule 11(9) of the ABC Rules provided that once the stray dogs have been sterilised, inoculated, and dewormed, they have to be released back in the same locality from which they were picked up.

However, the bench clarified that this relocation shall not apply to dogs infected with rabies or suspected to be infected with rabies and those that display aggressive behaviour. It said such dogs shall be sterilised and immunised but under no circumstances should they be released back into the streets.

A three-judge special bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, however, said municipal authorities shall continue to comply with the direction asking them to start picking up and rounding stray dogs from all localities of Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad and Gurugram.

The court expanded the scope of the matter beyond Delhi-NCR and extended it pan-India. All States and UTs, Secretaries of Animal Husbandry department, Secretaries of local bodies, Municipal corporations were impleaded for the compliance of ABC Rules. The court also said that it will transfer to itself the similar petitions pending in High Courts to the Supreme Court to formulate a national policy on the issue.

At the same time, the court prohibited the feeding of stray dogs on the streets and in public places. It directed that stray dogs must be fed only in the dedicated feeding spaces to be created in each municipal ward by the authorities.

In the order, the court noted that notice boards shall be placed near designated feeding areas, mentioning that stray dogs shall only be fed in such areas.

"Under no conditions shall the feeding of stray dogs on the streets be permitted," the bench said.

It said persons found feeding stray dogs on the streets shall be liable to be proceeded with under the relevant legal framework.

"The aforesaid directions are being issued in view of the reports regarding untoward incidents caused by unregulated feeding of stray dogs and to ensure that practice of feeding dogs on the roads and in public places is eliminated as the said practice creates great difficulties for the common man walking on the streets," the bench said.

It said each municipal authority shall create a dedicated helpline number for reporting incidents of violation of these directions. If the helpline gets any information, appropriate measures must be taken against the individual or organisation concerned.

The top court passed the order on the interim prayer seeking a stay on some of the directions passed on August 11 by a two-judge bench. The bench delivered its order in a suo motu case initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.

The bench on Friday said no individual or organisation shall cause any hindrance or obstruction in the effective implementation of its directions.

"In case any public servant acting in compliance with the aforesaid directions is obstructed, then the violator shall be liable to face prosecution for obstructing the public servant acting in discharge of official duty," the bench said.

It said each individual dog lover and each NGO that has approached the top court shall deposit ₹25,000 and ₹2 lakh, respectively, with the registry within seven days, failing which they shall not be allowed to appear in the matter any further.

"The amount so deposited shall be utilised in the creation of the infrastructure and facilities for the stray dogs under the aegis of the respective municipal bodies," the bench said.

It said desirous animal lovers shall be free to move an application to the municipal bodies concerned for adoption of stray dogs, and it shall be the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the adopted canines do not return to the streets.

The court also directed the municipal authorities to file an affidavit of compliance with complete details about resources, dog pounds, veterinarians, dog catching personnel, specially modified vehicles and cages available for the purpose of compliance with the Animal Birth Control Rules.

(With Live Law inputs)