The Supreme Court has directed that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be removed from public spaces within eight weeks and housed in dedicated shelters to be established by municipal bodies and other agencies.
The court ordered that once dogs are placed in shelters, they must not be released back onto the streets, colonies, or public places. It warned that action will be taken against individuals or organisations obstructing the process, stressing the need to protect infants and children from attacks.
The directive follows the court’s suo motu action last month over rising dog-bite incidents leading to rabies cases. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has separately announced upgrades to animal birth control centres, microchipping for monitoring sterilisation, and anti-rabies awareness drives.
Animal welfare advocate Maneka Gandhi and MCD officials have called for a humane, coordinated approach balancing public safety with animal welfare.
