Supreme Court Orders Relocation of All Stray Dogs in Delhi-NCR to Shelters

The Supreme Court today ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi NCR be removed from residential areas and relocated to shelters, warning that any organisation obstructing.

The process will face the “strictest action.” The directive comes amid a spike in dog bite incidents and rabies deaths. A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan, taking note of rising rabies cases, said the matter would be heard only from the Centre — not from dog lovers or other parties. “We are not doing this for ourselves, it is in public interest. Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to shelters. For now, forget the rules,” Justice Pardiwala told amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwala.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that a relocation site in Delhi had been identified but stalled due to a stay obtained by animal rights activists. “Will these activists bring back those who died of rabies? We need streets absolutely free of stray dogs,” the bench remarked, ruling out any adoption of strays to prevent them from returning to the streets.

The court ordered civic bodies across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram to immediately build dog shelters with trained staff for sterilisation, immunisation, and permanent housing. It directed installation of CCTVs to prevent escapes, creation of a dog bite helpline, and removal of all strays — sterilised or not — from public areas.

Warning against interference, the court said contempt proceedings would be initiated against anyone blocking the exercise. “Not a single stray dog should be released. If we find this happening, stern action will follow,” it said, noting that the “situation is grim” and requires urgent action.

The bench also flagged shortages of rabies vaccines and directed the Delhi government to publish detailed information on vaccine availability, stock, and monthly treatment numbers.

Official data shows 49 rabies cases and over 35,000 animal bite incidents in Delhi between January and June this year. Rabies — a viral infection with an almost 100% fatality rate — kills nearly 60,000 people annually worldwide, with India accounting for 36% of these deaths, according to the WHO.