Supreme Court stray dog ruling has “reopened wounds” for 6-year-old Chhavi’s family, who question safety and accountability after her tragic dog bite death in Delhi.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on stray dogs has sparked joy among animal lovers across the country, but for one grieving Delhi family, the verdict has reopened old wounds.
Six-year-old Chhavi, lovingly called Bittu by her family, became the victim of a stray dog attack in northwest Delhi’s Pooth Kalan last year. The little girl was on her way to her aunt’s house when a stray dog lunged at her, leaving her with severe injuries.
Despite immediate medical attention and anti-rabies treatment at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Hospital, Chhavi’s health declined weeks later. On July 21, her first day back at school, she started vomiting and lost strength in her limbs. Just four days later—before her vaccination course was complete—she tragically passed away.
Her aunt, Krishnadevi, recalls,
“We thought no other child would go through what Chhavi did. The first court order gave us a sense of relief. It wasn’t just about our loss, we believed it was a step to protect others too.”
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The Supreme Court has ruled that healthy stray dogs should not be shifted to shelters but instead sterilised, vaccinated, and released back into their original locations.
The decision has been celebrated by dog feeders and animal rights activists as a humane and balanced approach, prioritising animal welfare while attempting to manage population growth scientifically.
But for Chhavi’s family, the judgment feels like a painful reminder of their loss.
“The judgment has brought happiness to many, but we are still living with grief and fear,”
says her aunt.
The family insists they are not against animals. In fact, they stress their reverence for living beings.
“We worship cows and never hurt any animals. We only want children and the elderly to be safe,”
Krishnadevi adds.
Their concern is not just about what happened to Chhavi, but about what could happen to others. Street feeding practices, they argue, have created situations where stray dogs form packs and chase children. While the court ruling sets guidelines, questions about accountability remain unanswered:
- Who ensures safe feeding spots?
- Who takes responsibility if dogs become aggressive?
- How can families be assured of safety while maintaining compassion for animals?
Residents of Pooth Kalan say stray dogs continue to worry them.
“The dogs are still around. Every time we step out, it reminds us of what happened,”
a relative of Chhavi shares.
What the Supreme Court Said
On August 22, 2025, a three-judge special bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, along with Justices Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria, modified its earlier August 11 order that had prohibited the release of stray dogs from shelters.
The new directions state that:
- Stray dogs picked up by municipal authorities must be sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed, and released back into the same area they were taken.
- Dogs infected with rabies, suspected of being infected, or showing aggressive behaviour should not be released back into the streets. Instead, they should be sterilised, immunised, and kept in separate pounds or shelters.
- Municipal bodies must create dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs in every ward to ensure structured management.
The bench emphasized that the revised directions aim to reduce public health risks while also upholding animal rights.
CASE TITLE:
IN RE: CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE
SMW(C) No. 5/2025
READ ORIGINAL ORDER WHICH CREATED HAVOC AROUND COUNTRY:
READ FINAL ORDER OF TODAY (AUG 22):
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