Updated: August 22, 2025 10:55 AM IST 
Stray dogs row: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the two-judge bench order passed on August 11 to remove the stray dogs in Delhi National Capital Region to shelter homes. But stays directions to keep dogs in shelters indefinitely and added that only rabies infected dogs to be retained in shelters.
The Apex Court also ordered that MCD should create feeding areas in municipal wards. Supreme Court also said animal lovers can move an application before the MCD for the adoption of dogs.
A three-judge special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria had on August 14 reserved its order in the matter.
A two-judge bench of the apex court had on August 11 passed a slew of directions, including ordering the authorities in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) to start picking up stray dogs from all localities “at the earliest” and relocate the canines to dog shelters.
What happened on August 14 hearing?
On August 14 hearing, while the Delhi government told the Supreme Court that children are dying due to dog bites causing rabies, and the issue of stray dogs needs to be resolved and not to be contested, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for an NGO which looks after dogs, said the situation was “very serious” and the matter was needed to be argued in depth.
What the Delhi govt said?
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, told a three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath that there were over 37 lakh reported dog bites in an year in the country. Rabies deaths were 305 deaths for the same year, WHO’s modelling shows much higher number. “Nobody is an animal hater but children are unable to go out to play in the open,” Mehta told the bench.
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