On Monday, the Supreme Court directed that all stray dogs across Delhi-NCR be captured within eight weeks and housed in dedicated shelters, with an absolute prohibition on returning them to the streets. Issuing sweeping directions to civic and state authorities, the Court emphasised that public safety must take precedence over the practice prescribed under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules of releasing sterilised dogs into the same locality.
The Division Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, acting on a suo motu petition concerning the “alarming and disturbing” rise in dog bite incidents, ordered authorities in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram to initiate immediate collection drives, particularly in vulnerable and peripheral areas. “Round up all stray dogs from all localities, including localities on the outskirts… Whether sterilised or not sterilised, the society must feel free and safe. You should not have any stray dogs roaming around,” the Bench stated.
The directions were issued in the wake of the death of a six-year-old child from rabies following a dog bite in Delhi’s Pooth Kalan area, a case that prompted the Court to register the matter suo motu after media reports described “hundreds of dog bite incidents” in urban and fringe areas.
The Court declared that any attempt by individuals or organisations to obstruct the capture process would be treated as contempt, and mandated the establishment of a dedicated helpline for dog bite complaints. Such complaints must trigger action within four hours, with the offending animal to be taken into custody and placed in shelters.
The Bench rejected the ABC Rule requirement to return sterilised dogs to their original location, calling it “unreasonable and absurd”. It stressed that the existing approach failed to address the danger of bites and rabies, noting, “Forget the rules and face reality. These dogs are to be rounded up and captured immediately by whatever means. That’s how you can make children and senior citizens feel safe.”
When senior advocate Sidharth Luthra moved to intervene on behalf of animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, the Court declined to entertain any such applications, emphasising that the immediate imperative of public safety must prevail over competing considerations. “No sentiments of any nature should influence this matter… Will animal rights activists be able to bring back the lives lost? It is now the time to act and save them,” the Bench observed.
The Court directed the creation of shelters within eight weeks to accommodate at least 5,000 dogs, with facilities for sterilisation, immunisation, and care. It also ordered the installation of CCTV cameras for compliance monitoring, underscoring that no dog should be released back into public spaces. Authorities must publicise the availability of authentic rabies vaccines, addressing concerns about shortages raised by the amicus curiae.
The matter is slated for further hearing in six weeks, when the Court will review the compliance status.
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