The Delhi High Court has proactively initiated a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the management of stray dogs, following the Supreme Court’s directives on the removal of these animals from public spaces and educational institutions. The Bench comprising Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta has requested the Central government, Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to provide updates on their measures regarding birth control and vaccination of stray dogs. The next hearing is scheduled for August 3.
The Supreme Court’s intervention last year brought significant attention to this issue when it mandated Delhi’s municipal authorities to relocate stray dogs to shelters. The directive also called for the creation of dog shelters staffed adequately to carry out sterilization and immunization procedures. This order met with resistance from animal rights organizations, leading to a modification that emphasized vaccination, sterilization, and the release of dogs as per the Animal Birth Control Rules.
On November 7, 2025, the Court issued interim orders requiring states and the NHAI to remove stray animals from highways and institutional areas, such as hospitals and schools, across the country. It also imposed a requirement for government and private educational and health institutions to be fenced within eight weeks to prevent incidents of dog bites. Furthermore, dogs removed from these areas were not to be released back into the same premises.
In a judgment dated May 19, the Supreme Court instructed High Courts to register suo motu cases to ensure the directives are implemented effectively. The Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories have been ordered to submit compliance reports by August 7, 2026, to their respective High Courts. The Supreme Court has also cautioned that any failure to comply with these orders will be taken seriously.
