Supreme Court Stray Dog Case Sparks Debate in India

The Supreme Court has made an important step in addressing one of the most divisive animal welfare controversies in the country. After widespread backlash from its earlier order to remove stray dogs from public roads in Delhi-NCR. A three-judge Bench will now consider the issue.

Background for the Discretion

On August 11, 2025, a Division Bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala order Delhi-NCR authorities to seize strays and hold them in shelters for the rest of their lives. With orders banning the same strays from being returned to public places. The order was made in the context of increased reports of attacks by stray dogs. It includes serious attacks involving children.

However, the decision soon after sparked outrage from animal welfare activists, lawyers, and the public. Critics argued that the order disregarded existing regulations and standards of ethical care for stray animals.

New Committee to Review the Order

The Supreme Court has established a Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, with Justices Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria, to review the matter. This development arose from the intervention of a lawyer, who highlighted an earlier order dated May 9, 2024, which expressly prohibited indiscriminate killing of stray dogs and instructed that treatment be consistent with standards for animal welfare law.

After hearing the verbal mention of the matter, the Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai agreed to list the matter for hearing expeditiously while taking into account the issues raised of the previous order.

The August 11 Order and Its Implications

The August 11 order indicated local authorities would “begin immediately to remove stray dogs from all neighbourhoods· especially the more vulnerable neighbourhoods in the city and the outskirts.” It also suggested to the authorities to create a special unit to undertake this task, stressing that there can be “no laziness or compromise” in executing the order.
Animal rights groups fear if the order is carried out without review, it could lead to mass removals of strays in environments unsuitable to house and care for animals, leading to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.

The Information Gap in India’s Stray Dog Policy

A major challenge with this case is that there is no accurate information on the stray dog population in India. Malmogi, the national livestock census undertaken in 2019, and also an outdated survey for Delhi from 2016, are the only two national or regional reports that provide relevant data. Therefore, existing policy is premised on data that is outdated and arguably inaccurate.

For example, Tamil Nadu recorded 4.4 lakh stray dogs in 2019, while in the same year the state recorded 8.3 lakh dog bites. The gulf between data and reality highlights the urgent need for updated stats before implementing longer-lasting strategies.

Whether to House or Indemnify?

Experts feel the discourse needs to extend outside of just removing strays from streets. India has the potential to deliver violence and humane treatment for aggressive or sick dogs, as well as to organize vaccination and sterilization for healthy street dogs.

An accurate count of stray dogs will be a critical first step for implementing any successful form of a resolution. Without it, both the vaccination and removal strategies will both likely target portions of the populations of strays.

Why This Case Matters

This case has received a considerable amount of country-wide attention because it relates to so many sensitive topics — public safety, animal welfare, municipal responsibility, and legal consistency. The results of the next hearings will shape the fate of the August 11 order and possibly draw a line in the sand for Indian resolute of the stray dog problem in the future.

At this point in time, all eyes are on the Supreme Court for actions, particularly animal welfare advocates, political aides, and interested public. This hearing is expected to be the recent news updates going forward.