The Delhi High Court emphasized that dogs are the most loved animals and great friends of humans, urging authorities to treat them nicely and address stray dog issues humanely.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has turned the spotlight on the growing dog-human conflict, urging all stakeholders to prioritize both human safety and animal dignity.
Justice Mini Pushkarna, presiding over the matter, expressed strong concern over the current state of stray dogs in Delhi and emphasized that the issue demands urgent policy intervention rather than repetitive half-measures.
High Court’s Observation
In her remarks that have now gone viral, Justice Pushkarna declared,
“Dogs are the most loved animals in the world and great friends of humans. They should be treated nicely and with dignity.”
The court reiterated that stray dogs should either be housed in homes or institutional shelters, not forced to scavenge garbage on the streets, thereby suffering along with the humans around them. The Court said,
“Either dogs are at home, or shelter. Not on roads eating garbage. Humans and dogs both are suffering. Neither humans are safe, nor dogs. Dogs are loved animals.”
Authorities informed the court that sterilising 70% of stray dogs could solve the problem. But the judge rejected this as an outdated and ineffective strategy. The Court said,
“Sterilisation isn’t working at all. It’s not the solution.”
Despite being discussed for over three decades, sterilisation drives have shown limited success due to poor implementation, non-functional centres, and a lack of funding or follow-up.
The court took serious note of the infrastructural gaps in Delhi’s animal welfare system. It highlighted that most Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres are non-functional, and 78 veterinary hospitals across the capital remain non-operational, severely hampering any effective intervention.
Additionally, the court was informed that around 200 dogs, previously shifted to a temporary shelter, now face the risk of being released back onto the streets as the facility is slated for demolition. This situation, the court observed, reflects a grim state of systemic neglect, impacting not just the well-being of stray animals but also posing significant public safety concerns.
Earlier directions from the court had already called upon the Delhi Government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the Animal Welfare Board of India to formulate a coordinated, long-term policy for institutional rehabilitation of stray dogs.
Justice Pushkarna has now referred the matter to the Delhi Chief Secretary, instructing them to convene a meeting of all stakeholders and submit concrete recommendations.
The matter is next listed for September 17, by which time authorities are expected to come up with actionable strategies, not mere proposals.
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