Supreme Court Takes Action Against Stray Dog Crisis in Delhi

Supreme Court's Urgent Directive on Stray Dogs

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has described the issue of stray dogs in the capital as 'extremely serious' and has instructed the Delhi government along with municipal authorities to promptly begin the collection of stray dogs from all neighborhoods and transport them to designated shelters.

In a series of directives aimed at addressing the rising number of dog bite incidents, the court cautioned that any individual or organization obstructing the collection efforts would face stringent consequences.

A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan emphasized the need for the establishment of shelters capable of housing approximately 5,000 stray dogs, with adequate staff assigned to ensure the sterilization and vaccination of these animals.

The court mandated that stray dogs must be housed in shelters and prohibited from being released back into streets, residential areas, or public spaces.

"These directives are issued with the broader public interest in mind," the bench remarked, stressing the importance of protecting infants and young children from potential dog bites that could lead to rabies.

Additionally, the court instructed the authorities to set up a helpline within a week to facilitate the immediate reporting of dog bite incidents.

This action follows the Supreme Court's suo motu recognition of a media report regarding a dog bite case that resulted in rabies in Delhi on July 28.