New Delhi, November 7— Supreme Court of India directed authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR) to pick up all stray dogs from streets and relocate them to dedicated shelters within eight weeks, emphasising that the animals must not be released back into the areas from which they were taken.
The order, issued in a suo motu hearing triggered by repeated reports of dog‑bite incidents and fatal rabies cases, says the situation is “grave” and immediate action is required. The bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan emphasised that streets must be “absolutely free of stray dogs” and warned persons or organisations obstructing the operation would face penal action.
One of the court’s key concerns was the fundamental right of citizens to move freely without fear of dog‑bite or attack. The court‑appointed amicus curiae argued that releasing sterilised dogs back to the same locality “is a direct violation of our fundamental rights” and questioned the logic of returning animals to the very streets they were removed from.
However, the order has stirred a fierce debate. Animal welfare activists and groups have criticised the ruling as “inhumane” and impractical, given the severe shortage of shelters and infrastructure in Delhi‑NCR. For instance, while the last official dog census recorded around 560,000 stray dogs in Delhi in 2009, estimates today suggest numbers could be closer to one million; yet the municipal corporation operates only about 20 centres holding fewer than 5,000 dogs.
In response to the outcry, the court has since referred the matter to a larger three‑judge bench led by the Chief Justice for reconsideration. The Chief Justice noted that previous Supreme Court judgments prohibited relocation of street dogs, and said the matter merits deeper examination.
Civic bodies have been instructed to furnish status reports on shelter readiness, number of dogs shifted, and steps taken for sterilisation and vaccination. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has been told to refrain from harsh action against dogs until a final decision is pronounced.
As the deadline looms, questions remain: Where will shelters be located? Can they handle such large numbers? And will this policy strike the right balance between public safety and animal welfare? The coming weeks will test whether the order can be implemented effectively — or whether it too will be revised under pressure of practicality and compassion.
