“Act, Don’t Just Talk”: Supreme Court Slams Stray Dog Menace in India

Extremely Grim Situation," Says Apex Court

The Supreme Court of India has issued a strong and urgent directive on the stray dog menace, calling for immediate removal of stray dogs from public spaces and placing them in proper shelters. While hearing a suo motu case triggered by reports of rising rabies deaths, especially among children, the bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan criticised both civic inaction and interference from animal rights activists.

Referring to the situation as “extremely grim”, the court made it clear that “no sentiments should interfere with public safety.” In a pointed comment, the bench said:
“All these so-called animal lovers – will they be able to bring back the children who’ve lost their lives?”

SC Issues Tough Guidelines and Timeline

Key orders from the court include:

·        Round-up of stray dogs in public areas to create dog-free localities, prioritising the safety of children and the elderly.

·        Civic authorities in Delhi-NCR must establish proper shelters with sterilisation facilities, staffed and monitored by CCTV, within eight weeks.

·        Stray dogs once picked up must not be released back into public spaces.

·        A helpline must be set up within one week to report dog bite or rabies incidents. Action must be taken within four hours of any complaint.

·        Strict action will be taken against individuals or organisations obstructing the removal of stray dogs.

Quoting the film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Justice Pardiwala remarked: “When you want to shoot, shoot – don’t talk.”

The ruling underscores a turning point in India’s approach to balancing animal welfare with public safety, amidst growing concerns over the deadly impact of unchecked stray dog populations.