The Supreme Court announced its decision on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR on Friday. On August 11th, the court had ordered that stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets be moved to permanent dog shelters. A review petition was subsequently submitted. The court has now ruled that dogs are to be released after they undergo sterilization. The court emphasized that aggressive dogs will not be released, and public feeding of dogs is prohibited.
The court clarified that it is revising its earlier decisions, and these changes will extend to the entire country, not just Delhi-NCR. State governments are being notified, and all related cases pending in High Courts will be moved to the Supreme Court. The bench, comprising three justices and headed by Justice Vikram Nath, heard the case concerning stray dogs.
The Supreme Court ruled that stray dogs should be vaccinated and released back into the areas where they were captured. This verdict is viewed as a positive development by dog lovers. The court has ordered the release of the captured stray dogs. The initial order had prompted widespread opposition.
The court also ordered the identification and detention of rabies-infected dogs, preventing their release. Rabies-infected dogs found roaming freely should be captured and moved to shelter homes.
The Supreme Court has prohibited the public feeding of dogs, mandating designated feeding zones for stray dogs. The court cited incidents related to public feeding that resulted in harm. Dog bites led to rabies and, in some cases, fatalities or severe injuries to children. The court has decided that public feeding is a hazard, and those who feed dogs publicly will face legal action.
The Supreme Court had previously directed that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be relocated to shelters within eight weeks. This decision led to significant public opposition. The CJI acknowledged these concerns, and the court has since amended its ruling. Consequently, all captured stray dogs will be vaccinated and then released.