The Supreme Court of India has directed "dog lovers" and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) who have challenged the order for the permanent relocation of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, to deposit money within one week to be heard in the matter.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, also comprising Justices Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria, ordered that individual dog lovers deposit ₹25,000 and NGOs deposit ₹2 lakh with the court registry. Failure to deposit the money within the stipulated week will result in them not being allowed to participate further in the case. The deposited funds will be used to create infrastructure and facilities for stray dogs under the administration of municipal bodies.
The Supreme Court's decision came in response to a suo motu case that was initiated on July 28, 2025, following media reports about incidents of stray dog bites leading to rabies, especially among children, in the National Capital Region. Several NGOs and individuals had approached the apex court seeking a stay on certain directions that were passed by a two-judge bench on August 11, 2025.
In addition to the deposit requirement, the Supreme Court has also modified its previous order of August 11, 2025, regarding the management of stray dogs in Delhi and NCR. The court has now directed that stray dogs will be released back into the same area where they were picked up from, after being sterilized, dewormed, and vaccinated. However, this modification will not be applicable to dogs infected with rabies or suspected of being infected, and those displaying aggressive behavior.
The bench has also stated that animal lovers can apply to the concerned municipal bodies for the adoption of stray dogs. The adopted dogs will be tagged and given to the applicant, who will be responsible for ensuring that the dogs do not return to the streets.
The court has instructed municipal authorities to continue picking up stray dogs from all localities in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad, and Gurugram. The authorities are required to file compliance reports with complete statistics on the resources available for complying with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.
The Supreme Court has also addressed the issue of feeding stray dogs, stating that under no condition shall feeding of stray dogs on the streets be permitted. Individuals found feeding dogs on the streets in violation of this direction may face legal action. This directive is aimed at addressing concerns about untoward incidents caused by unregulated feeding of stray dogs and to prevent the practice of feeding dogs on roads and in public places, which creates difficulties for pedestrians.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court has expanded the scope of the matter to include all states and union territories in India. Similar petitions pending before High Courts across the country will be transferred to the apex court, to enable the formulation of a final national policy on the issue. The court directed municipal authorities to create a dedicated helpline number for reporting incidents of violation of the order and stated that those obstructing public servants in carrying out the directions will be proceeded against.
