The Supreme Court has constituted a fresh three-judge bench to re-examine the contentious issue of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, following widespread protests and concerns regarding a previous order. The new bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria, is scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday, August 14, 2025. This development comes after a two-judge bench, led by Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan, had directed the permanent removal of all stray dogs from public spaces in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad, mandating their relocation to shelters.

The previous order by the two-judge bench cited a concerning statistic of 3.7 million dog bites nationwide in 2024, highlighting the urgency of the matter. The bench emphasized the need to make streets "absolutely free of stray dogs" and prohibited the release of captured dogs back onto the streets. They also directed the creation of dog shelters, a dog bite helpline, CCTV monitoring, and daily records of captured dogs. Furthermore, the bench warned of strict legal action against any organization or group obstructing the removal of stray dogs.

However, this order sparked an immediate outcry from animal lovers, activists, and the public, who voiced their concerns about the welfare of the animals. Prompted by these concerns and a plea from lawyers pointing out a potential conflict with a previous judgment, Chief Justice B R Gavai intervened and reassigned the case to the new three-judge bench.

The Supreme Court's intervention also took into account the concerns for vulnerable groups, noting that visually impaired individuals are at a higher risk of dog bites as their canes can be perceived as threats by the dogs. The court also acknowledged that many affected individuals cannot afford medical care after an attack.

It is important to note that a prior order from May 9, 2024, by a bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol, had disposed of two dozen petitions filed by Kerala, the Animal Welfare Board, and others, emphasizing compassion towards all animals and barring the killing of stray animals.

The core issue before the court is balancing public safety with animal rights. The court has acknowledged the duty of officials to ensure that stray dogs are adequately fed and monitored, while also avoiding overcrowding in shelters. The court's suo motu proceedings stem from media reports highlighting a surge in stray dog attacks and related rabies cases. The Supreme Court's directions on stray dogs must be implemented in every city and town. It is not difficult to round up stray dogs and put them in proper dog shelters. All that a town needs is government or municipal land on the outskirts of a town; leveling the land and fencing it; and putting the dogs in the enclosed space.