No sentiments should be involved: Supreme Court orders Delhi–NCR to pick up and detain all stray dogs amid rabies surge

“Whether sterilised or not sterilised, society should be free from stray dogs.” - Supreme Court of India (Bench: Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan) issued sweeping directions in a suo motu matter triggered by reports of children being mauled by strays. Emphasising that “Infants and young children, not at any cost, should not fall prey to rabies,” the Court ordered authorities in the NCT of Delhi to immediately start picking up stray dogs from all localities and shift them to dog shelters, extending the mandate to Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad as well. The Court declared that strays detained in shelters shall not be released back into public spaces.
“The action should inspire confidence that they can move freely without fear of being bitten by stray dogs.”
The Court registered the suo motu proceedings—IN RE: “CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE” | SMW(C) No. 5/2025—after a news report depicted repeated attacks on children and the spectre of rabies-related deaths. The Bench recorded that the “situation is extremely grim” and that “immediate steps need to be taken to take care of the menace of dog bites leading to rabies.”
“We have seen on YouTube, children dying and parents crying helplessly because even doctors say, we have no cure.”
The central issues before the Court were public safety, the duty of civic bodies to control dangerous stray populations, and the adequacy of existing sterilisation-and-release practices. Questioning the logic of returning sterilised dogs to the same localities, Justice Pardiwala observed that the prevailing pick–sterilise–release model is “absolutely absurd and doesn’t make any sense at all,” adding that “whether sterilised or not sterilised, society should be free from stray dogs.”
“Start picking up all stray dogs at the earliest in all possible manner and shift them at a far-off place.”
The Court directed the State of NCT of Delhi, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to immediately establish dog shelters and report on the creation of infrastructure across Delhi within eight weeks. These shelters must be staffed to house both sterilised and immunised strays and those newly captured, and must be CCTV-monitored to ensure no releases occur. As an initial benchmark in this progressive exercise, the authorities were told to begin with capacity for around 5,000 dogs in the next 6–8 weeks.
“No sentiments should be involved.”
The Bench ordered immediate pickup of stray dogs from all localities—with special focus on vulnerable areas and the outskirts—and clarified that authorities may create a dedicated force to execute the task. Any individual or organisation obstructing the exercise would face legal consequences, and reports of resistance will invite stern action from the Court.
“There should not be any compromise in undertaking this exercise.”
The Court further directed MCD/NDMC and the competent authorities of Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram to maintain daily records of strays captured and lodged in shelters and to produce these records on the next hearing. The Bench stressed that the entire exercise would be futile if even a single captured stray is released back; any such instance would draw severe action.
“Not a single stray dog picked up… should be released.”
A dedicated helpline must be set up within one week so that all dog-bite incidents are reported promptly. Upon receiving a complaint, the dog must be rounded up within four hours, sterilised and immunised as per the Rules, and not released under any circumstances. Medical facilities are to be immediately informed so that victims receive treatment without delay. The Court also ordered transparent disclosure of rabies vaccine availability, including stock levels and beneficiaries.
“Any hindrance… will be viewed as contempt of the Court.”
Addressing case-management issues, the Bench declined intervention applications, including one referenced by a trustee of People for Animals, reiterating that no sentiments should cloud the exercise. While noting an amicus suggestion for adoption of captured strays, the Court rejected it, clarifying that stray dogs should not become pet dogs overnight. The Solicitor General informed the Court about earmarked land for shelters reportedly stayed by the Delhi High Court; the Bench took note while reiterating its primary directions.
“You should not find a single stray dog moving around in any locality of the city or in the outskirts.”
Centering public health and child safety, the Supreme Court has recast civic obligations in Delhi–NCR: capture, detain, immunise—and do not release. By empowering authorities to form a dedicated pickup force, mandating CCTV-monitored shelters, imposing strict timelines, and warning of contempt for obstruction, the Bench signalled a zero-tolerance approach to the rabies menace. The matter will be listed after six weeks for compliance review.
“Infants and young children, not at any cost, should not fall prey to rabies.”
Date of Decision: August 11, 2025
Case Title: IN RE: “CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE” | SMW(C) No. 5/2025