Judgment of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria, , in In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”, Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5 of 2025. Summary, then three passages word for word from the court’s PDF.
The Supreme Court of India, in a judgment of , dismissed all applications to modify, recall or stay its order of on removing stray dogs from institutional premises. The bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria held that the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 do not require dogs to be released back into such premises, and dismissed the challenges to the Animal Welfare Board of India's Standard Operating Procedures. It allowed authorities, after assessment by qualified veterinary experts and within the law, to euthanise rabid, incurably ill or demonstrably dangerous dogs. Every High Court must register a suo motu case to monitor compliance.
Paragraph 76, and directions H and A
76. In view of the above, the submissions advanced on behalf of the applicants seeking modification, clarification, vacation, recall and/or stay of the directions contained in the order dated 7th November, 2025, particularly those pertaining to the removal of stray dogs from institutional areas and the prohibition on their re-release at the same locations, are found to be devoid of merit. Accordingly, all interlocutory applications seeking modification, clarification, vacation, recall and/or stay of the aforesaid directions stand dismissed.
H. In areas where the population of stray dogs has assumed alarming proportions and where incidents of dog bites or aggressive attacks have become frequent and pose a continuing threat to public safety, the concerned authorities may, subject to due assessment by qualified veterinary experts and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and other applicable statutory protocols, take such measures as may be legally permissible, including euthanasia in cases involving rabid, incurably ill or demonstrably dangerous/aggressive dogs, so as to effectively curb the threat posed to human life and safety.
A. For the purpose of ongoing compliance and monitoring, all High Courts are directed to register a suo moto writ petition, in the name and style of: “In Re: Compliance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No(s). 5 of 2025”, as a continuing mandamus, for monitoring compliance with the directions issued by this Court vide orders dated 22nd August, 2025 and 7th November, 2025, in addition to the directions contained in the present order, and the same shall be placed before and, as far as practicable, taken up by a Division Bench of the concerned High Court.
