New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition seeking directions to prevent alleged cruelty to dogs in animal birth control (ABC) centres and shelters across the country.
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the plea, which had sought directions to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to take immediate and effective action against alleged cruelty in animal birth control centres.
The petition also requested the court to direct the Centre, states and Union Territories to ensure that no municipal body or local authority engages any animal welfare organisation for conducting animal birth control programmes unless it possesses a valid Project Recognition Certificate issued by the AWBI.
Under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, no street dog sterilisation programme can be conducted unless the concerned local authority or animal welfare organisation has obtained the required project recognition certificate.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel referred to the requirement of obtaining and renewing the project recognition certificate and cited the Supreme Court’s May 19 judgment, which issued a series of directions to strengthen the implementation of the animal birth control framework across the country.
However, the Bench simply observed, “Dismissed,” while rejecting the petition.
The plea had also sought directions requiring organisations whose project recognition certificates had expired after five years to obtain renewals immediately. It further requested that organisations operating without renewed recognition should be barred from carrying out animal birth control procedures until they secured valid certification.
Additionally, the petitioner urged the court to direct the AWBI to conduct regular inspections of animal birth control centres and shelters and initiate action against organisations or individuals found responsible for cruelty to animals.
The matter comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s significant ruling on May 19, which permitted the euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill, dangerous and aggressive dogs, observing that the right to live with dignity includes the right to move freely without the threat of attacks from stray dogs.
The apex court had also dismissed petitions seeking modification or recall of its November 7, 2025 order relating to the relocation and sterilisation of stray dogs from institutional areas.
In that order, the Supreme Court had noted an “alarming rise” in dog bite incidents at educational institutions, hospitals and railway stations, directing authorities to relocate stray dogs from such areas to designated shelters after sterilisation and vaccination.
The directions were issued in a suo motu case concerning the growing stray dog menace in the country.
