NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court today reserved its decision on a clutch of petitions challenging a previous directive to move stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region to shelter homes, a move that could potentially impact the fates of thousands of canines in the national capital.
The apex court’s three-judge bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria, observed that the core of the problem lay not in a lack of law, but in the failure of authorities to enforce the existing legal framework.
“Rules and laws are framed by the Parliament, but they are not followed. Local authorities are not doing what they should be doing,” the bench stated pointedly during the hearing. The remarks highlighted the court’s view that the burgeoning issue of stray dog management was a consequence of administrative lethargy and negligence. The case stems from an August 11 order passed by a two-judge bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, which had directed local bodies to commence the relocation of stray dogs “at the earliest” and shift them to shelters. That earlier order had also mandated the setting up of dedicated dog shelters and sought a progress report from authorities within eight weeks.
A key provision of the August 11 directive was that the relocated animals must remain in shelters and not be released back into public spaces. This previous order had been issued while the court was hearing a suo motu case initiated on July 28, following a surge in reports of stray dog bites and rabies cases, particularly among children, in the national capital. The Supreme Court’s decision to hold back its final judgment today signals a more nuanced and cautious approach to the contentious issue, which pits concerns for public safety against the welfare of the animals.
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