The apex court also held that stray dogs must be fed only in dedicated feeding spaces to be created in each municipal ward by the authorities.
Published Aug 22, 2025 | 1:07 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 22, 2025 | 1:07 PM
Stray dogs on a street. (iStock)
Synopsis: The Supreme Court clarified that the street dogs, which were picked up from Delhi-NCR, must be released after vaccination and sterilisation. The apex court also held that it is illegal to feed stray dogs on the streets and in public places. However, the court’s decision evoked mixed reactions on social media.
The Supreme Court on Friday, 22 August, clarified that the street dogs, which were picked up from Delhi-NCR, must be released to the same place after vaccination and sterilisation, except those infected with rabies, suspected of being infected with rabies or displaying aggressive behaviour.
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria passed this direction while modifying the 11 August order passed by a two-judge bench, which directed the relocation of the stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to dog shelters.
The apex court also held that it is illegal to feed stray dogs on the streets and in public places and directed that stray dogs must be fed only in dedicated feeding spaces to be created in each municipal ward by the authorities.
It said that if anyone is found to violate this direction, they will be prosecuted according to the law. The court passed this direction based on reports regarding untoward incidents caused by the unregulated feeding of stray dogs. It further stated that this practice must be eliminated so that the common citizens walking on the streets are not put to difficulties.
However, the court’s decision evoked mixed reactions on social media.
One user questioned whether the court would ensure that all dogs are vaccinated.
“What a bad decision. Are judges or these so called dog lover will take responsibility that each street dog is vaccinated and sterile?? It is now upto public that they can do anything if they find any threat looming in locality,” the user wrote on X.
What a bad decision. Are judges or these so called dog lover will take responsibility that each street dog is vaccinated and sterile??
It is now upto public that they can do anything if they find any threat looming in locality— SuperSaiyan (@_iamnik_) August 22, 2025
“If you see any kutta premi feeding any dog on the street, call the police,” wrote another X user.
Meanwhile, another person welcomed the court’s decision.
“As a Pet parent I welcome this decision. My wife is thrilled as she feeds, Vaccinate, Sterilisation and taking care of their health of 10 dogs. My own Indie ( so called street dog) was rescued from the road after a vehicle hit and went off!” he wrote.
Another user noted that the court’s order could pave way for increased cruelty on street dogs.
“#SupremeCourt decision on #dogs will only increase cruelty on them and not solve the purpose. With more than 10,000+ cases each day of dog bites i think the courts have made a mockery of human life and also on humans living on street having no designated place to eat food,” the user wrote.
At the same time one user urged people to realise the real cause of the street dog menace.
“What the world should understand is street dog menace is a human created menace , there are a lot of reasons why the numbers have increased and also failure of the abc programme and the behaviour of people towards street dogs also have contributed to such violent behavior.”
“Every now and then we see idiots on 2 wheelers who are riding in 2-4 in numbers on a 2 wheelers attacking dogs, irritating them, throwing stones, fire crackers, hitting them with sticks they have gone to such inhuman level that they drive a car on small puppies and hit them with sharp objects and run their bike over them.”
“It’s simple we give them love they will love you back if you show hatred we get hatred in return. But the beauty of the dogs is they don’t treat every human in the same way even after going through all this they trust humans. But this is something many humans can’t understand,” the user wrote on X.
What the world should understand is
Street dog menace is a human created menace , there are a lot of reasons why the numbers have increased and also failure of the abc programme and the behaviour of people towards street dogs also have contributed to such violent behavior.…
— Vikram Mailar Vijay (@Vikrammailar) August 22, 2025
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
