New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the growing threat posed by stray animals across the country, observing that deaths were occurring not only due to dog bites but also because of accidents caused by stray animals roaming on roads. The apex court flagged widespread non-compliance by civic bodies in implementing existing rules and directions meant to address the issue.
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria made the remarks while hearing pleas seeking modification of its earlier orders, as well as applications demanding strict enforcement of those directions. The Bench said the hearing was being conducted afresh after claims by lawyers and animal activists that they were not adequately heard before the court issued its order on November 7.
The court underlined that roads must be kept free of stray dogs and other animals, stressing that their presence posed a serious risk to public safety. The judges noted that unpredictable animal behaviour, particularly in the early hours, had led to several accidents. Civic authorities, the Bench said, were duty-bound to strictly enforce rules, regulations, modules and standard operating procedures.
Justice Mehta highlighted the gravity of the situation by pointing out that two sitting judges of the Rajasthan High Court had met with accidents in the past 20 days due to stray animals, with one of them still suffering from spinal injuries. Calling it a serious issue, the Bench said it would not hesitate to take a stern view against states failing to comply with court directions.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for a petitioner seeking modification of the earlier order, argued that indiscriminate capture of dogs was not a solution. He urged the court to adopt a scientific and globally accepted approach to reduce animal-human conflict, advocating the CSVR model — Capture, Sterilise, Vaccinate and Release — to manage stray dog populations. The Bench acknowledged the argument, noting that prevention was always better than cure, while clarifying that its directions were limited to removing stray dogs from institutional areas without disturbing existing laws.
The court reiterated that its focus was on ensuring effective implementation of existing rules by states and local bodies. It warned that states failing to file compliance affidavits or submitting unsatisfactory responses would face strict action. The Bench took note of submissions that children and adults were being bitten and, in some cases, losing their lives due to stray dog attacks.
Amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwal informed the court that the National Highways Authority of India had prepared a standard operating procedure and identified nearly 1,400 km of vulnerable road stretches. However, he said the responsibility for managing stray animals on these stretches had been left to state governments. The court suggested measures such as fencing highways and expressways to prevent animals from straying onto roads.
It was also pointed out that states including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab were yet to file compliance affidavits, while some others had submitted what the court termed “disappointing” responses. The Bench said it would deal with such states appropriately.
Several senior advocates and animal rights activists, including Colin Gonsalves, Anand Grover, C U Singh and K K Venugopal, also addressed the court, highlighting issues such as inadequate shelter infrastructure and the need for humane, long-term solutions. The hearing remained inconclusive and is set to continue on Thursday.
The Supreme Court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the issue on July 28 last year following reports of stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children in the national capital. In its November 7 order, the court had directed the immediate relocation of stray dogs from institutional areas after sterilisation and vaccination, and ordered that they should not be released back at the same locations. It also directed authorities to remove all cattle and stray animals from national highways, state highways and expressways, terming repeated incidents a reflection of administrative apathy and systemic failure.
