Supreme Court Stray Dog Order 2025 has brought major changes to the rules on stray dog management in Delhi and across India. In its latest judgment, the Supreme Court has allowed the release of sterilised and vaccinated stray dogs back into their localities, while strictly regulating feeding practices through designated zones.
A three-judge Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria delivered the ruling on Friday, striking a balance between public safety, animal welfare, and legal compliance.
Supreme Court Stray Dog Order 2025 :- Key Highlights of the Order
- Stray dogs to be released back to their original areas post sterilisation and vaccination.
- Rabid or aggressive dogs will not be released; they must be sterilised, immunised, and kept in shelters.
- Designated feeding zones to be established in every municipal ward; feeding on streets is strictly prohibited.
- Violators, including individuals and NGOs, will face legal action.
- Dedicated helplines to be set up for reporting violations.
- Adoption of strays permitted through municipal bodies, with adopters responsible for ensuring dogs don’t return to streets.
- Petitioners and animal rights groups must deposit ₹25,000 and ₹2 lakh, respectively, to continue participating in the proceedings.
- Issue expanded to pan-India for the framing of a national stray dog policy.
Court’s Rationale :- Supreme Court Stray Dog Order 2025
The Bench observed that “unregulated feeding of stray dogs” had led to untoward incidents, including fatal dog-bite cases. In 2024 alone, Delhi recorded 25,201 dog-bite cases, with children forming a large share of the victims.Supreme Court Stray Dog Order 2025
Justice Nath, while pronouncing the operative part of the order, stressed:
“Feeding stray dogs on streets shall not be permitted under any condition. Designated feeding areas must be created in every ward, keeping in mind the population and concentration of strays.”
The Court also made it clear that obstructing civic authorities from enforcing these directions would invite prosecution.Supreme Court Stray Dog Order 2025
Background: The August 11 Directive
Earlier, on August 11, 2025, a Bench led by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan had ordered the rounding up of all strays in Delhi within eight weeks and their confinement in shelters with a capacity of at least 5,000 animals each.
That order, issued in the backdrop of rising dog-bite cases, triggered widespread protests by animal rights groups, who warned that Delhi NCR lacks the infrastructure to house an estimated 8 lakh stray dogs. Concerns were also raised about violations of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which prohibit the relocation of strays from their original habitats.
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Reactions from Stakeholders
- Animal Rights Activists: Protested at Jantar Mantar on August 21, calling the earlier order “impractical and cruel.” They welcomed the revised directive as more humane but expressed concern about enforcement.
- Union Government: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta highlighted that most fatalities due to dog bites involved children and described the issue as an escalating public health crisis.
- Legal Experts: Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing an NGO, argued that blanket confinement violated the ABC Rules, influencing the Court’s reconsideration.
Pan-India Policy on Stray Dogs
In a significant move, the Supreme Court expanded the scope of the case beyond Delhi-NCR. Notices have been issued to all States and Union Territories, and the Court will also transfer similar petitions pending before various High Courts.
This sets the stage for the first national policy on stray dog management, covering sterilisation drives, vaccination, feeding regulations, adoption norms, and shelter infrastructure.
Supreme Court modifies earlier directive
What Lies Ahead?
The ruling seeks to strike a middle path between public safety concerns and animal welfare obligations. However, its success will hinge on:
- Efficient sterilisation and vaccination drives on a massive scale.
- Strict monitoring of feeding zones and action against violators.
- Adequate shelter facilities for aggressive or rabid dogs.
- Collaboration between civic authorities, NGOs, and citizens.
As India grapples with a stray dog population running into millions, the Supreme Court’s latest intervention may well become the foundation for a uniform, humane, and pragmatic national framework.
The Supreme Court has modified its earlier directive, permitting the release of vaccinated and sterilised strays, restricting feeding to designated zones, and expanding the issue to a pan-India policy framework. The move attempts to reconcile public health, safety, and compassion for animals while addressing one of India’s most debated civic challenges.