Euthanise Rabid, Aggressive Stray Dogs To Curb Threat To Human Life: Supreme Court

In the suo motu case concerning the stray dogs menace, the Supreme Court today has directed authorities to euthanize rabid and dangerous dogs to curb the threat to human life, in accordance with the statutory protocols.

"In areas where the population of stray dogs has assumed alarming proportions and where incidents of dog bites or aggressive attacks have become frequent and pose a continuing threat to public safety, the concerned authorities may, subject to due assessment by qualified veterinary experts and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 and other applicable statutory protocols, take such measures as may be legally permissible, including euthanasia, in cases involving rabid, incurably ill, or demonstrably dangerous/aggressive dogs so as to effectively curb the threat posed to human life and safety," a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria. ordered today.

Court has also refused to modify its earlier directions to the authorities to remove stray dogs from the premises of educational institutions, bus stands, railway stations, sports complexes, hospitals, etc.

The bench noted that if states had acted with due foresight, the present situation would not have assumed such alarming proportions. "This court is constrained to observe that inaction on effective implementation of ABC framework has resulted in in aggravation of the problem. Stray dog bites continue to occur. Reports reveal that the problem has assumed deeply disturbing proportions. In the city of Sri Ganga nagar in Rajasthan alone 1084 dog bites were reported in a month. Young children suffered grievous injuries, including mauling of their faces etc according to reports," the bench in its order has said.

"Right to life with dignity encompasses right to life freely without threat of harm of dog bite attack. State cannot remain a passive spectator. Court cannot remain oblivious to harsh ground realities where children, international travelers, old age people have fallen victim to dog bite incidents," it has further observed.

Supreme Court on August 11, 2025 had ordered the removal of all stray dogs from the Delhi NCR region and their consequent relocation to dog shelters/compounds dedicated for them. Notably a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan has ordered that the strays shall not be released in the localities, even after sterilisation.

In July last year, 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”. "Everyday, hundreds of dog bites are being reported in the city and the areas on the outskirts, leading to rabies and ultimately young infants, children and aged are falling prey to this dreadful disease. We are shocked to know that on an average 20,000 cases of dog bites are recorded in the country and out of which 2000 incidents happen in Delhi every day", the bench had noted.

As per the Newspaper report amidst the rising threat of stray dog in the national capital, a 6 year old girl by name Chavi Sharma fell prey to multiple dog bites leaving deep wounds on her left leg, arm and palm. Although the inhabitants of the locality complained for several times to the authorities concerned, yet none paid heed to the complaints of the people residing in the said locality. Also, a four year old boy Abhishek Rai was attacked by a pack of stray dogs on 23-7-2025 in Delhi’s Alipur area of Narela when the child was returning from his Anganwadi School. The dogs pounced at his face repeatedly injuring him until few bystanders rushed to his rescue.

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

Bench: Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria

Hearing Date: May 19, 2026