‘Now Only Dog Counselling Is Left’: What Supreme Court Said on Stray Dog Menace

The Supreme Court on Wednesday resumed hearings on the nationwide stray dog menace, saying: “Now only thing left is provide counselling to dogs… if they stop biting, release them back on road.” The court made the comments while reviewing compliance with its November 7, 2025 order, which directed that stray dogs be removed from schools, hospitals, bus stands, and railway stations, and shifted to shelters.A three-judge special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria is hearing the matter. The bench on Wednesday flagged safety concerns, noting, “In last 20 days two judges in Rajasthan suffered accidents involving stray animals. One of the judge yet to recover. He has serious spinal injuries.”Appearing before the bench,

an advocate, said, “The order says the cattle, stray dogs etc have to be put in shelters. That would mean infrastructural development. AWB says male dogs should be sterilised first so that it takes care of future reproduction. Man power requirement is also there in ABC (Animal Birth Control) centres.” He added that states were asked to file affidavits and that he had compiled 10 affidavits received so far.On highway safety, the advocate told the court, “NHAI was asked to do an SOP. NHAI has done it. There’s 1400 odd km of vulnerable stretch. After detecting the NHAI says that the state government has to take care.”Counsel for an 80-year-old dog bite victim urged stricter measures, stating, “With 6.2cr population of dogs the situation is going out of control… I am urging the ABC rules to be amended.”Justice Vikram Nath told intervenors, “Please be precise tell us what is your exact grievance. We know it is a big menace.”Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for animal welfare groups, argued, “If one tiger is a man eater not all tigers are man eaters,” emphasising the ABC rules which mandate sterilisation and release.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested local regulation, saying, “Whether there should be dogs in gated society, let there be some provision like RWA decide on basis of votes… all are animal lovers but we are human lovers too.”