Supreme Court weighs relocation of Delhi-NCR stray dogs to shelters

The Supreme Court is weighing a contested directive to relocate all stray dogs from Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region to shelters within eight weeks, a plan that has sparked nationwide debate over public safety, animal welfare, and the practicalities of controlling rabies. As a three-judge panel prepared to issue its verdict, supporters argue the move is a necessary, decisive step to reduce dog bites and rabies, while critics warn it could be inhumane, unsustainable, and counterproductive to long-term public health goals.

The court’s August 11 directive ordered authorities in Delhi and NCR areas to begin capturing stray dogs and housing them in shelters, with a minimum shelter capacity of about 5,000 dogs and a requirement to report progress within eight weeks. The ruling diverges from the established Animal Birth Control Rules of 2023, which emphasize sterilisation and vaccination before any dog is released back to its urban home rather than permanent removal. The bench that issued the directive faulted local bodies for failing to implement sterilisation and vaccination programs adequately, and it urged swift action to establish facilities and monitoring with...