New Delhi — In a significant move to address growing concerns over public safety, the Supreme Court of India has directed all states and Union territories (UTs) to remove stray dogs from sensitive public areas such as educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots, and railway stations. The court further clarified that once sterilised and vaccinated, these animals cannot be released back into the same premises, as doing so would “defeat the very purpose” of ensuring safety in such zones.
The directive was issued by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, which is monitoring stray dog–bite incidents through a suo motu proceeding. The bench ordered that all stray dogs currently found in these restricted premises must be captured, sterilised, and vaccinated, and kept away from public areas of heavy footfall.
Reading out the operative part of the order, Justice Mehta stated, “They will not be released back in the same area since releasing them back will frustrate the very purpose of the directive of the court.” A detailed judgment is expected soon.
The court also instructed all states and UTs to identify public and private schools, colleges, hospitals, transport hubs, and sports grounds within two weeks, and ensure that within eight weeks, these areas are made secure — preferably by building boundary walls to prevent stray entry. Additionally, each such institution must have a nodal officer responsible for surveillance and upkeep, while municipal bodies and panchayats have been told to conduct regular inspections for at least three months and submit progress reports to the court.
In a related directive, the bench ordered the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and other road-owning agencies to remove stray cattle and animals from highways and ensure they are shifted to shelters.
The Supreme Court’s decision follows a string of hearings where it expressed concern over widespread non-compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which outline the catch-neuter-vaccinate-release (CNVR) model for humane animal control. However, the court noted that public safety in areas with high footfall cannot be compromised.
Earlier, on November 3, the same bench had pulled up several government institutions after reports emerged of employees feeding stray dogs inside office and public premises, contrary to earlier orders mandating designated feeding zones away from public movement areas. The court hinted at issuing further directions to such government bodies and public sector units.
The suo motu case was initiated in July 2024 after multiple reports of dog bite incidents, some involving children. Despite earlier warnings, the court observed that most states had failed to submit compliance affidavits or take concrete action. Only West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had filed reports on time.
In its latest ruling, the court made it clear that while humane treatment of animals remains essential, stricter control measures are necessary for sensitive and high-density areas like schools, hospitals, and transportation hubs. This new directive marks a crucial shift in the implementation of the ABC Rules, aiming to balance compassion for animals with the imperative of public safety.
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