Supreme Court Transfers Delhi-NCR Stray Dog Case to Three-Judge Bench; Hearing Scheduled for Thursday
New Delhi: Just hours after Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said he would review a two-judge bench order on relocating all stray dogs in Delhi and the NCR to shelter homes, the case has now been referred to a larger bench. A three-judge panel comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria will hear the matter on Thursday.
Supreme Court’s Directive: Stray Dogs to be Housed in Shelters Permanently
In its recent order, the Supreme Court directed that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be captured and moved to designated shelters. The court also made it clear that once relocated, these dogs should never be released back onto the streets.
The order specifies mandatory measures for all shelters, including adequate staffing, sterilisation, deworming, vaccinations, and CCTV surveillance. Special facilities must be provided for sick or weak animals.
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Zero Tolerance for Cruelty or Negligence
The court strongly emphasised that cruelty, abuse, or negligence toward these animals will not be tolerated. It also directed authorities to avoid overcrowding in shelters and ensure proper food, water, and medical care for the dogs.
The bench warned that anyone — individual or organisation — attempting to obstruct or defy the order could face contempt of court proceedings. Authorities must submit a progress report on shelter construction within eight weeks.
Dog Bite Cases Called “Extremely Grim”
On August 11, Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan noted that rising incidents of dog bites have created an “extremely grim” situation, leading them to order the permanent relocation of all stray dogs in the region “at the earliest.”
During Wednesday’s hearing, a lawyer pointed to a May 2024 order from Justice J K Maheshwari’s bench, which had previously sent stray dog-related petitions to the respective high courts. The CJI assured that he would examine the matter closely.
Petition Highlights Poor Implementation of Dog Population Control Rules
The petition, filed by the Conference for Human Rights (India), claims that the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001 — which mandate sterilisation and immunisation programs to control stray dog populations — have not been effectively implemented.
As part of its August 11 decision, the court also directed Delhi authorities to establish shelters for at least 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks and to expand capacity over time. Strict action was warned against anyone hindering the relocation process, with contempt proceedings as a possible consequence.
