New Delhi: In the wake of mounting protests across the country over the Supreme Court’s directive to relocate stray dogs from public spaces in Delhi-NCR, a fresh three-judge bench is set to take up the matter today.
The case will now be heard by Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, following an earlier order issued on August 11 by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan. That order had called for the “permanent relocation” of all stray dogs from city streets to designated shelters “at the earliest possible time.”
In their detailed remarks, the previous bench acknowledged the principle of co-existence but stressed that it could not come “at the cost of human life.” The judges noted that the debate over stray dogs was being turned into a battle between so-called animal lovers and those seen as indifferent, while the core issue remained unresolved.
“Our concern is for the welfare of both people and animals,” the bench had observed, adding that compassion for the voiceless should not be used for self-promotion.
Challenging the order, animal welfare organisation All Creatures Big & Small has approached the apex court, calling the relocation plan unworkable and impractical. The matter will be heard afresh by the reconstituted bench today.
The controversy arises amid references to a May 2024 order, in which Justice JK Maheshwari’s bench transferred stray dog-related petitions to the state high courts. Petitioners, including the Conference for Human Rights (India), argue that the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001 — which mandate sterilisation and vaccination drives to control stray populations — have not been effectively implemented.
On August 11, the court had described the stray dog menace in the capital region as “severe” and urged immediate action from the Delhi Government, MCD, NDMC, NOIDA, and Gurugram civic bodies.
“This is the time to act,” the court had said. “Those advocating for stray dogs—will they be able to bring back children who lost their lives to rabies? We need to take a realistic view.”
The ruling has sparked strong reactions from animal rights activists, civic authorities, and residents, setting the stage for a heated legal and public debate in the days ahead.
