The Allahabad High Court has directed the Municipal Commissioners of Lucknow and Prayagraj to identify each dog-bite hotspot in their cities and carry out humane capture and removal of dogs from those areas, starting with dogs that have repeatedly attacked people.
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has begun direct monitoring of how stray dog and dog-bite directions are being implemented in Lucknow and Prayagraj, ordering a month-long, phased exercise by the Municipal Commissioners of the two cities to identify bite hotspots and remove aggressive dogs humanely [In Re: Stray Dogs and Dog-Bite Incidents (suo motu compliance proceeding)].
A Bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prasad passed the directions on October 1, 2026 in a suo motu proceeding on compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions on stray dogs and dog-bite incidents. The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 5, 2026.
How the matter reached here
The directions follow the Supreme Court’s suo motu proceeding titled In Re: City Hounded By Strays, Kids Pay Price, which was started on July 28, 2025 after media reports of rising stray dog attacks and rabies cases. An order of August 11, 2025 by a Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had directed that stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be caught and sent to shelters, and a three-judge Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath modified it on August 22, 2025. In January 2026 the Supreme Court clarified that it had not ordered the removal of all dogs from the streets and that dogs must be managed in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules.
In the High Court, the State and other authorities had filed affidavits describing administrative steps. The Bench noted these, but considered it necessary to examine whether the steps had actually been implemented on the ground, and so decided to monitor implementation within the municipal limits of the two cities.
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The directions
The Municipal Commissioners must give priority to dogs found, on verification, to have repeatedly attacked people or shown aggressive behaviour, particularly where several complaints have been received. The Court sought details of human dog-bite cases from the past three years together with municipal complaints and veterinary records, and asked for a year-wise, area-wise statement showing where bites occurred, as far as recorded, and where incidents are repeated or increasing.
The Commissioners were also asked to identify at least 30 additional locations for inspection beyond those found through bite records. These may include large hospitals, schools, railway stations, markets, parks and other places of public movement, with their premises, adjoining roads and access areas. The exercise is to be completed within one month.
Inspections and handling of dogs
Veterinary and municipal officers are to be deputed to inspect each location and record the estimated number of dogs, with the date and method of estimation, identify dogs associated with repeated attacks or aggression, and document the steps taken over the past three years to remove, sterilise and vaccinate dogs. After removal, dogs must be taken to an identified Animal Birth Control centre or a suitable veterinary facility for examination, treatment, sterilisation and vaccination as clinically appropriate. Aggressive or suspected rabid dogs are to be assessed separately and managed through suitable segregation or quarantine arrangements.
The authorities must record the location and basis of identification of each dog, the receiving facility and the action taken, and must separately disclose removals made after the Court’s order and the present placement of dogs linked to repeated attacks. The Court also asked for details of deficiencies in the existing arrangements, including shortages of teams, manpower, expertise and equipment, and constraints of ABC centre capacity and staff qualifications. Action plans must state the estimated number of dogs remaining in each area and the number of aggressive dogs awaiting removal, along with measures to prevent recurrence and secure institutional premises, and compliance affidavits are to be filed.
Case Title: In Re: Stray Dogs and Dog-Bite Incidents, suo motu compliance proceeding (descriptive title; case number not available)
Bench: Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prasad, Allahabad High Court
Date of Order: October 1, 2026
Next Hearing: November 5, 2026