Supreme Court's New Directions on Stray Dogs: A Balanced Approach to Animal Rights and Public Safety
Supreme Court's Balanced Stance on Stray Dog Management
New Delhi: A senior official from the Law Commission has stated that the Supreme Court's recent directives regarding stray dogs reflect a well-balanced approach, addressing both animal rights and the genuine concerns of citizens.
The success of these judicial guidelines hinges on effective collaboration among municipal authorities, health departments, and state agencies to ensure that they lead to safer urban environments and humane, sustainable solutions without descending into cruelty or disorder.
Anju Rathi Rana, Member Secretary of the 23rd Law Commission, emphasized that the Supreme Court's rulings signify a renewed focus on how India addresses the issue of stray animals, which encompasses public health, municipal governance, and animal welfare.
After taking notice of the rising incidents of dog bites and associated dangers highlighted in the media, the Supreme Court revised previous instructions and mandated adherence to the Animal Birth Control Rules (ABC), 2023, which include capturing, sterilizing, deworming, and vaccinating stray dogs.
These protocols form the essential framework for humane population control. According to the ABC Rules, 2023, stray dogs must be sterilized, vaccinated, and returned to their original locations, thereby establishing a systematic approach rather than random removal, as noted by the senior Indian Legal Service officer.
The order issued in November 2025 introduced a specialized strategy for institutional areas such as schools, hospitals, and transport hubs, where the risk to human safety is heightened.
Municipal authorities are instructed to remove stray dogs from these locations, ensure their sterilization and vaccination, and transfer them to designated shelters instead of returning them to the same areas.
The scope of the order extends beyond mere 'dog management.' It calls for a comprehensive national status report and the development of uniform Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) through the Animal Welfare Board of India, which has already disseminated an SOP for institutional settings.
Additionally, the order mandates the appointment of nodal officers, quarterly inspections, and accountability measures for municipal bodies to guarantee compliance.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court has required that all public and private hospitals maintain a constant supply of anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG), along with integrating awareness initiatives into safety planning for institutions.
In the latest hearings in January 2026, the apex court has indicated a stronger enforcement stance regarding accountability and the potential for significant compensation claims against the state for negligence or harm caused by stray dog incidents. Judicial comments have suggested exploring liability for authorities and even feeders in cases of severe bites or fatalities.
While this is not a conclusive ruling, it marks a significant shift in the court's approach to enforcement, according to Rana.
She concluded that the court's strategy presents a balanced framework that respects animal rights while also addressing the valid concerns of the public.
The effectiveness of these judicial directives will ultimately depend on the collaboration among municipal bodies, health departments, and state authorities to ensure they lead to safer cities and humane, long-term solutions without falling into cruelty or chaos.