Stray Dogs Case: SC Refuses Virtual Appearance, Orders Chief Secretaries to Physically Explain Non-Compliance

The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing the matter when Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta mentioned it seeking exemption from physical appearance for the Chief Secretaries.

The SG requested the Court to allow virtual participation instead, citing administrative inconvenience.

Rejecting the request, Justice Vikram Nath observed that despite repeated directions, the Court’s orders had not been complied with. “No, let them come physically. It’s very unfortunate that the Court is giving time here, the government frames rules, and yet no action is taken. They are sleeping over the order,” Justice Nath remarked.

The Bench made it clear that Chief Secretaries would have to personally appear before the Court to explain why compliance affidavits, as directed earlier, were not filed within time. “Let them come; we will deal with them. They have to physically come and explain why compliance affidavits were not filed,” the Court said.

Notably, on October 29, the refused a plea made before it by the Chief Secretary of Bihar seeking an exemption from personal appearance before court in the matter pertaining to stray dogs. The exemption was sought on grounds of the upcoming assembly polls. The assembly polls in the state of Bihar are starting from November 6. Rejecting the request, Supreme Court had said the Chief Secretary has nothing to do with elections and Election Commission is there to oversee that the polls happen smoothly.

Previously, on October 27, after noting that only three compliance affidavits had been filed before it i.e., by the State of West Bengal, State of Telangana and Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the supreme court had ordered the Chief Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories other than the States of West Bengal and Telangana to remain present before it on 3.11.2025 at 10:30 A.M. along with their respective explanations as to why compliance affidavits have not been filed.

It also expressed its concern over the country's image going down because of the constant incidents of dog attacks taking place across the country. "Continuous incidents are happening and the image of the country is being shown down. We are also reading news reports," a Justice Vikram Nath led bench noted while hearing a suo motu case on stray dog menace.

In its previous order, the Court had directed the impleadment of all States and Union Territories in the instant matter through the Secretaries concerned of the Animal Husbandry Department, Secretaries of the local bodies (Municipal Corporation, Municipal Councils, Municipalities, etc.) and the Administrators of the Union Territories so as to seek information from each authority regarding the steps being taken for compliance of the ABC Rules in their respective jurisdictions.

On August 22, the Court had also partly stayed its recent order directing relocation of dogs from all localities of Delhi, Ghaziabad, NOIDA, Faridabad, Gurugram as well as areas on the outskirts, to designated shelters / pounds. "Prohibition on release of strays is stayed. They shall be dewormed, vaccinated and sent back to the respective areas.", a three-judge bench had said.

In July the top court had taken suo-moto cognizance of a very disturbing and alarming Newspaper cutting reported by the `Times of India’ in its Delhi edition titled “City Hounded By Strays, Kids Pay Price”. 

Case Title: In Re: "City Hounded By Strays, Kids Pay Price"

Mentioning Date: October 31, 2025

Bench: Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta