Supreme Court Orders All Stray Dogs Removed from Delhi-NCR Streets
Citing an "extremely grim" situation from stray dog bites and rabies cases, the Supreme Court has ordered authorities in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram to remove all stray dogs from public areas. The bench directed that the dogs be permanently relocated to shelters, which must be equipped with CCTV cameras and sufficient staff for care, sterilisation, and immunisation. The court warned of strict action, including contempt proceedings, against any individuals or organisations obstructing the removal process, emphasizing public safety over sentiment.
Unpacked:
The Court barred re‑release of sterilised dogs and ordered their permanent relocation to shelters, which departs from ABC Rules, 2023 requiring community dogs be returned to their original locations after sterilisation and vaccination.
The Court sought multiple shelters across Delhi-NCR, each able to house at least 5,000 dogs, with CCTV, staffing, sterilisation and vaccination facilities. Delhi government currently has no government-run shelters; shelters are mostly run by NGOs, suggesting significant capacity gaps and delays beyond eight weeks.
Estimates range from about 800,000 to 1,000,000 in Delhi, with no comprehensive census since 2009 (which recorded ~560,000). Municipal officials say a fresh pan-Delhi census is needed to guide policy.
Constraints include limited sterilisation throughput, lack of shelter space, staffing, and funding. MCD admitted the need for updated population data; past sterilisation drives faced roadblocks. Officials indicate it’s not feasible to pick up and move dogs to shelters immediately, and capacity may fall short of the Court’s timeline.