New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Friday delivered a landmark verdict on the management of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, easing its earlier order and aiming to balance public safety with humane treatment.
In the revised directive, the Court allowed stray dogs to be sterilised, dewormed, and vaccinated, after which they may be released back into the localities where they were found. Only dogs that are rabid or display extreme aggression will be exempted and kept away from public areas.
The Court also banned feeding of stray dogs in public spaces, instructing municipalities to establish designated feeding zones in every ward. This move is expected to regulate care for strays while reducing risks of conflict between residents and animals.
Animal welfare activists welcomed the order. BJP MP and animal rights campaigner Maneka Gandhi called it a “scientific judgement,” while stressing the need for clarity on what constitutes “aggressive” canine behaviour.
The ruling follows protests against the Court’s earlier order requiring all stray dogs to be shifted permanently to shelters, a plan critics said was unworkable. The fresh approach is seen as a step toward creating a humane and practical framework for managing India’s stray dog population.
