Stray Dog Row| ‘We’ll Show You What Humanity Is’: SC Pushes Back on ‘Inhuman’ MCD Rules Claim
SC questions claims of inhuman treatment in stray dogs case during hearing on Delhi dog bite crisis
The Supreme Court on Thursday firmly declined to intervene immediately against rules framed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on the handling of stray dogs, telling petitioners that the Court would “play a video” at the next hearing to test competing claims of what constitutes humanity.
The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing the suo motu case on the stray dog menace when Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal objected to the MCD’s newly framed rules, arguing that they amounted to “inhuman” treatment of animals and were contrary to statutory safeguards.
Sibal informed the Court that a three-judge special bench, earlier scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday, had been cancelled.
Justice Nath clarified that the case would now be taken up on January 7.
Raising urgency, Sibal submitted that the MCD was likely to implement the rules in December itself, including removing stray dogs despite the absence of adequate shelters. “They don’t even have shelters. What is being done is very, very inhuman,” he argued, urging the Court to hear the matter earlier.
The Bench, however, was not persuaded. Justice Nath responded, “It is alright, Mr Sibal. Let them do it, we will consider.”
Justice Mehta added pointedly, “On the next date, we will play a video for your benefit and ask you what is humanity.”
Sibal countered that the petitioners would also play videos to show the ground reality, stressing that statutory rules were being violated despite existing court orders.
The Bench maintained that the issue would be examined on January 7.
Earlier, on November 7, the Supreme Court had taken note of the “alarming rise” in dog bite incidents, particularly in institutional areas such as schools, hospitals and railway stations. It directed the immediate relocation of stray dogs to designated shelters after sterilisation and vaccination, and categorically ordered that such dogs should not be released back at the spots from where they were picked up.
A three-judge special bench had also flagged administrative apathy and systemic failure in preventing dog bite incidents, while directing authorities to remove stray animals from highways and expressways.
The Court continues to hear the suo motu proceedings initiated on July 28, following media reports of rabies-linked dog bite cases in Delhi, especially affecting children.
On November 3, the Court was informed that compliance affidavits were filed by all states and union territories as per its order on the stray dogs issue. It had also recorded the presence of the Chief Secretaries as ordered by it recently. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had submitted that victims of dog bites should also be heard in the matter. He had referred to various intervention applications that have been filed before the Supreme Court by the concerned individuals.
Recently, 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 today, on 3.11.2025 at 10:30 A.M. along with their respective explanations as to why compliance affidavits have not been filed.
It had 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 July the 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.
Case Title: In Re: "City Hounded By Strays, Kids Pay Price"
Bench: Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
Hearing Date: December 18, 2025