The Supreme Court today criticised the Animal Birth Control Rules as “absurd” while addressing the stray dog menace and rising rabies cases, ordering immediate removal, sterilisation, and sheltering of dogs.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has stepped in to address the rise in dog bite incidents and rabies-related deaths across the country. On Monday, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed the Delhi government and municipal authorities to immediately begin picking up stray dogs from all localities and move them to shelter homes.
The directive comes against the backdrop of over 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected human rabies deaths reported in 2024 alone. The situation, the bench said, has reached an “extremely grim” point and demands urgent intervention to protect public safety, especially the lives of children.
The court marks a sharp departure from the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which require sterilised and vaccinated stray dogs to be returned to the same locality. Calling these rules “absurd”, the bench said,
“Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to shelter homes. For the time being, forget the rules.”
What Are the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023?
The ABC Rules, 2023, were framed by the Centre to humanely manage stray dog populations. The rules focus on:
- Sterilising stray dogs to control their population
- Vaccinating them to prevent rabies spread
- Returning them to the same location post-procedure
While these rules aim to balance animal welfare with public safety, the Supreme Court believes the current crisis warrants immediate, more direct measures.
The Supreme Court’s directives:
- Dog shelters capable of accommodating at least 5,000 stray dogs must be created.
- Sufficient personnel should be deployed to sterilise and immunise dogs in the shelters.
- A helpline must be set up within one week to report all dog bite cases instantly.
- Shelter homes must be operational within eight weeks.
- Any person or organisation obstructing the authorities’ work will face strict action.
The court emphasised that the safety of citizens, especially children, must come first.
“Immediate steps need to be taken to take care of the menace of dog bites leading to rabies,”
the bench stated.
On July 22, Union Minister SP Singh Baghel informed Parliament that India recorded 37,17,336 dog bite cases and 54 suspected rabies deaths in 2024. He said municipalities are tasked with controlling stray dog populations through the Animal Birth Control Programme.
In November 2024, his ministry issued an advisory to states to enforce the programme via local bodies, prioritising the safety of children, especially toddlers, from stray dog attacks.
Supreme Court’s Observation
The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the Delhi Government, MCD, and NDMC to immediately remove stray dogs from all localities, prioritising vulnerable areas, and to ensure no compromise in making neighbourhoods dog-free.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan ordered the creation of proper dog shelters within eight weeks, equipped with adequate staff for sterilisation and vaccination, and monitored by CCTV. The Court also instructed setting up a helpline within one week to report dog bites and rabies cases, with authorities required to act within four hours of receiving a complaint.
The bench warned of strict legal action against any individual or organisation obstructing the removal of stray dogs. It criticised animal rights activists opposing such measures, stressing that public safety, especially of children, takes priority over sentimental objections.
The suo motu proceedings followed repeated incidents of rabies and fatal dog attacks. The Court emphasised that all dogs picked up must be kept in shelters and not released back into public spaces.
CASE TITLE:
IN RE: CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE
SMW(C) No. 5/2025
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