The Delhi High Court has mandated the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to establish camps across the city for the sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs. This directive was issued by a bench comprising Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta during a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) concerning stray dog management.
The Court emphasized that the camps are to be set up in each ward as a pilot project, with adequate publicity to inform residents that the purpose is solely for vaccination and sterilization, not for capturing or sending the dogs to pounds. The initiative will begin in areas with heavy foot traffic, such as near Connaught Place and India Gate.
In a personal revelation, Justice Mehta shared that his mother had been bitten twice by dogs, underscoring the public threat posed by stray dogs. Despite this, he noted the importance of maintaining a certain dog population for future generations, stating, “We don’t want any dog to die… a percentage of dogs should remain for the next generation.”
Responding to concerns from a dog feeder, the Court assured that responsible individuals in each colony could help manage the dogs by assisting with the camps. The discussion touched on the risk of extinction, with the Bench humorously noting that “the German Shepherd will remain.”
The Court also highlighted the declining population of birds, questioning, “Where are the sparrows? Where are the crows?” This reflects a broader concern about urban biodiversity.
Previously, the Supreme Court had directed municipal authorities in Delhi to handle stray dogs by creating shelters and focusing on vaccination and sterilization, following protests from animal rights groups. These guidelines were later refined to prioritize the release of dogs post-treatment, in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules.
During the hearing, MCD’s counsel Manu Chaturvedi reported progress in managing the dog population across Delhi’s 12 zones, albeit without providing an exact count of stray dogs, estimated at around 800,000. He explained that sterilization is central to controlling the population, and rabid dogs are quarantined for observation.
The Court sought clarification on the gender distribution of sterilized dogs, pondering whether sterilizing only female dogs might be more effective. Chaturvedi noted that a pilot project using microchips had shown success.
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To ensure accountability, the Court requested an affidavit confirming the proposed actions and scheduled the next hearing for September 1.
