The Supreme Court of India on Thursday reserved its order on a batch of petitions seeking modifications to ongoing directions in the long-running stray dogs case, a matter that has sparked intense debate across the country. The top court also asked all parties to submit their written briefs within a week, indicating that a detailed and reasoned order is likely to follow.
A bench of the apex court heard arguments from a wide range of stakeholders, including animal welfare groups, representatives of dog lovers, victims of dog bite incidents, and lawyers appearing for the Union government and various state governments. The case brings into focus the difficult balance between public safety concerns and animal rights, an issue that has become increasingly prominent in urban and semi-urban India.
Petitioners seeking modifications argued that the existing framework has not adequately addressed the growing number of dog bite incidents, especially in densely populated areas. They urged the court to consider stronger measures to ensure the safety of pedestrians, children, and the elderly, while also pressing for clearer accountability of local authorities in managing stray dog populations.
On the other hand, animal rights activists and organisations defended the current animal birth control (ABC) and vaccination programmes, stressing that humane methods are both legally mandated and scientifically proven to be more effective in the long term. They cautioned against any approach that could lead to indiscriminate relocation or harm to animals, warning that such steps could worsen public health risks rather than solve them.
Counsel for the Centre and state governments informed the court about the challenges faced by municipal bodies in implementing sterilisation, vaccination, and monitoring programmes, citing funding constraints, manpower shortages, and varying levels of compliance across states.
With the verdict now reserved, all eyes are on the Supreme Court’s upcoming order, which is expected to clarify the legal and administrative framework for managing stray dogs, while attempting to strike a balance between human safety and animal welfare.
