New Delhi, May 19 (H.S.): The Supreme Court of India has refused to modify its earlier order in the case related to stray dogs, upholding its direction dated November 7, 2025. A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath maintained its previous ruling without any changes.
The Supreme Court dismissed all petitions challenging the validity of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Animal Welfare Board concerning stray animals. The Court observed that it cannot ignore the fact that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules were implemented in 2001, yet infrastructure expansion has not kept pace with the growing stray dog population.
The Court further noted that efforts made in this regard lacked seriousness and a comprehensive plan. It said sterilisation and vaccination drives were carried out without a broader strategy, which undermined the core objectives of the system.
The apex court stated that due to serious lapses in effectively implementing the ABC framework, the stray dog population problem has worsened significantly. It also noted that cases of dog bites are rising across the country, describing the situation as “highly alarming.”
Referring to data placed before it, the Court said that in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar alone, 1,084 dog bite cases were reported within a single month, with several involving severe injuries to children, including facial injuries. In Tamil Nadu, nearly two lakh dog bite cases were reported in the first four months of the year.
The Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on January 29. During hearings, it expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of state governments regarding sterilisation of stray dogs, establishment of shelters, and removal of dogs from educational and other institutional campuses.
The Court also expressed concern over the situation in Assam, noting that while 1.66 lakh dog bite incidents were reported in 2024, the state had only one dog care centre. In Gujarat, no information regarding dog shelters was available.
Reviewing affidavits from Jharkhand, the Court observed that claims of sterilising 1.6 lakh dogs in two months appeared inaccurate. In Delhi’s affidavit, it was stated that 68,000 dogs were sterilised over eight months, implying that only about 80,000 sterilisations would occur in a year.
The Court remarked that at this pace, controlling the stray dog population would not be possible.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
