Order of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, , in In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”, Suo Motu Writ Petition (C) No. 5 of 2025. Summary, then four of its directions word for word from the court’s PDF.
The Supreme Court of India, in an order of , directed authorities in Delhi and the National Capital Region to pick up stray dogs from all localities and keep them in shelters. The bench told the Delhi government, its municipal bodies and the authorities of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad to create shelters within eight weeks, starting with space for about 5,000 dogs. Dogs were to be sterilised, dewormed and vaccinated under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and not released back on the streets. The order, in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5 of 2025, also asked for a dog-bite helpline within a week. A suo motu case is one the court starts on its own.
Directions (III), (VII), (X) and (XI)
(III) The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the appropriate authorities of NOIDA, Ghaziabad, Gurugram & Faridabad are directed to immediately create dog shelters/pounds and report to this Court the creation of such infrastructure all over the National Capital Region (NCR), within a period of eight weeks from today.
(VII) Since this is a progressive exercise i.e. the dog shelters would have to be increased over a period of time, authorities concerned shall begin by creating dog shelter(s) for say 5,000 dogs in the next six-eight weeks.
(X) We direct the Authorities, referred to above, to create helpline number within a period of one week from today so that all cases of dog bites are immediately reported. Action must be taken to round up/pick up/catch the dog(s) within four hours from the complaint being received. Any resistance offered by any individual or organizations in this regard will be viewed strictly and we may proceed for contempt against such individual or organizations coming in the way of this Court.
(XI) The stray dogs shall be captured, sterilized, dewormed and immunized as required by Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and as noted above, shall not be released under any circumstances.
