Supreme Court Orders Nationwide Removal of Stray Dogs from Public Institutions
India's Supreme Court has ordered all states and Union Territories to remove stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, and railway stations, citing a sharp rise in dog bite incidents. The court mandated proper fencing of these areas, transfer of collected dogs to shelters after vaccination and sterilization, and strict compliance by local authorities. Dogs must not be released back to their original spots, and regular inspections and status reports are required within eight weeks.
On November 7, 2025, the Supreme Court of India issued a sweeping directive requiring the removal of all stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, public sports complexes, bus stands, and railway stations across the country. The order, passed by a bench including Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, was motivated by an 'alarming rise of dog bite incidents' and concerns over public safety. Local government institutions are tasked with collecting the dogs, ensuring they are vaccinated and sterilized as per the Animal Birth Control Rules, and transferring them to designated shelters. The court explicitly prohibited returning these dogs to the areas from which they were removed, stating that such action would undermine the directive's purpose. All premises must be properly fenced to prevent re-entry, and Chief Secretaries of states and UTs are personally responsible for compliance. The court further required the appointment of nodal officers for surveillance, periodic inspections by municipal authorities and panchayats for at least three months, and a status report within eight weeks detailing enforcement mechanisms. The order also extends to the removal of stray cattle and other animals from national and state highways, directing that they be cared for in shelters. This nationwide order follows earlier, more limited directives focused on the Delhi-NCR region, and reflects the court's view that decades of inaction by authorities necessitated judicial intervention to protect public welfare.
