The Supreme Court has reserved its ruling on an interim plea regarding its August 11 directive, which mandates the removal of stray dogs from the streets of the capital and their confinement in shelters within six to eight weeks. A three-judge Bench, led by Justice Vikram Nath and including Justices Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria, did not issue an immediate stay on the directive from a Division Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan. The Bench noted that local authorities are failing to fulfill their responsibilities.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union Government, emphasized that a majority of dog bite and rabies-related fatalities involve children, underscoring the health risks involved. “Nobody is an animal hater. Children are dying. This issue needs to be resolved, not contested,” he stated.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing an NGO focused on stray dog care, argued that aspects of the August 11 order breach the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which prevent the relocation of strays from their original habitats. He requested a stay on the directive, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Another senior advocate, A.M. Singhvi, representing a different petitioner, contended that the order is impractical due to the lack of sufficient shelter facilities for the significant stray dog population. He pointed out that it contradicts previous Supreme Court rulings that demand adherence to the ABC Rules, 2023.
The suo motu case, originally heard by Justice Pardiwala’s Bench, was reassigned by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai to the current Bench after a lawyer referenced a May 9, 2024, order advocating compassion for stray dogs. Justice Pardiwala had previously acknowledged the increasing number of dog attacks on children, instructing local authorities to begin removing dogs from high-risk areas and city outskirts.
However, this order has drawn considerable backlash from animal rights activists, welfare organizations, and public figures. They argue that Delhi lacks the necessary infrastructure to accommodate an estimated 800,000 stray dogs and warn that mass capture could result in logistical chaos and cruelty towards these animals.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/national/sc-reserves-order-on-plea-against-delhi-stray-dog-removal.html
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Publish Date: 2025-08-14 14:31:00
