Ruling on the stray dog menace in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court has directed that all canines be moved to dog shelters from all localities within eight weeks.
The apex court passed a slew of directions to Delhi-NCR states, MCD and NDMC to deal with the menace of stray dogs and orders creation of dog shelters across cities.
A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan took up the case after noting a news report on the increasing rabies deaths caused by stray dog attacks. The court clarified that it would hear arguments only from the Centre and would not entertain petitions from dog lovers or any other parties on the matter.
Top court ordered authorities to pick up all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR from all localities within eight weeks and to put them in dog shelters, and no stray dog will be released back.
The stray dog menace in Delhi-NCR has been a persistent concern, with frequent reports of dog bites, aggressive behavior, and attacks on pedestrians, particularly children and the elderly.
Rapid urbanization, improper waste disposal, and lack of effective sterilization drives have contributed to the growing stray population.
While animal welfare groups stress the need for humane management through vaccination and sterilization, residents in many areas have raised safety concerns and demanded stronger interventions.
The issue has sparked repeated legal battles, prompting the Supreme Court to step in and issue directives aimed at balancing public safety with animal rights.