The Supreme Court on 11 August directed authorities to pick up stray dogs in Delhi NCR and relocate them to shelters, saying the move is ‘in the interest of humans as well as dogs‘ and ‘not personal’. The court warned that delays could allow ‘another two decades to slip into the ledger of neglect’, affecting future generations. While some welcomed the order, animal lovers protested, calling it impractical and inhumane.
Authorities Directed to Act Urgently
The Supreme Court directed authorities in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad to set up dog shelters immediately and maintain proper records. Stray dogs must be captured, sterilised, dewormed, and immunised according to the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023. The court stressed that the work must be done simultaneously with infrastructure creation. Any obstruction could be treated as contempt of court. Adoption of stray dogs remains possible, and authorities are advised to coordinate with local animal welfare bodies. Progress reports are to be submitted within eight weeks.
