The Meghalaya High Court told the Supreme Court that stray dogs in the state are more violent than in other regions. The court said such dogs are a “grave danger” and requested to retain the PIL on this issue.
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NEW DELHI: The stray dog problem in Meghalaya has now reached the Supreme Court, but the Meghalaya High Court has made a strong request that its Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the matter should not be transferred.
The court said that the situation in the state is unique because the dogs are extremely aggressive and dangerous, creating a serious threat to people’s safety.
This request came at a time when the Supreme Court had ordered that similar stray dog PILs pending in different High Courts should be transferred and considered together by the apex court.
On August 30, a division bench of the Meghalaya High Court, headed by Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, passed an important order.
The court clearly observed,
“Although many issues may be common between petitions concerning stray dogs in other high courts and in the Supreme Court, we feel that it is our duty to point out that in this State there is peculiarly distinctiveness in the menace pose by stray dogs. We have been specifically told that quite a number of stray dogs are biter dogs and very vicious in nature. In roads, streets and other public places they attack persons suddenly and at times causing grave injury. Having heard those submissions in this public interest litigation, we had, inter alia, directed those dogs to be taken hold of by the public authorities, inoculated, vaccinated medically attended to and then kept in shelters for observation before setting them free. With dogs of this nature, freeing them without satisfaction that they have ceased to be biter dogs, and allowing them to frequent public places would pose grave danger to the public.”
The judges made it clear that the problem of stray dogs in Meghalaya cannot be compared with other states.
The order further said,
“In those circumstances, we direct the Registrar General of this Court to make a formal application before the Supreme Court on the basis of this order and seek appropriate directions with regard to retention of this public interest litigation in this court. We strongly recommend that a public interest litigation of this character and nature be retained in this court because of its peculiar and distinctive feature.”
The High Court stressed that releasing such aggressive dogs back on the streets without ensuring they are no longer dangerous could put the public at great risk.
Therefore, it strongly appealed to the Supreme Court to allow this PIL to remain in the Meghalaya High Court, given the distinct seriousness of the problem in the state.
Last Hearing In Top Court (Aug 22): To Frame National Policy
The Supreme Court on Aug 22 made a major change in its earlier order on stray dogs. Earlier, the Court had directed that stray dogs in Delhi NCR be rounded up, but now it has clarified that the dogs shall be released from shelters only after being dewormed and vaccinated.
The case is no longer limited to Delhi NCR.
A three-judge Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria has widened the scope to the entire country.
ALSO READ: BREAKING | Stray Dogs To Be Sterilised, Released: Supreme Court; Big Win For Dog Lovers
The Court made it clear that similar cases which are pending in High Courts across India will now come to the Supreme Court.
“We have expanded the scope pan-India, not only Delhi NCR because there are petitions filed here from other states and in other High Courts also, matters are pending…We have also directed the Registrar General to get details from High Courts on similar pending matters and all those matters to be transferred to this Court so that a final national policy or decision is taken with regard to this problem.”
The Court has now added all states and union territories as parties to this case and asked them to explain what steps they have taken under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
Another strict step of the Court was towards dog lovers and NGOs who filed petitions.
“Each individual dog lover and each NGO that has approached this Court shall deposit a sum of Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh respectively with the Registry within 7 days, failing which they shall not be allowed to appear in the matter any further. The amounts so deposited shall be utilised in the creation of infrastructure and facilities for the stray dogs…”
The Court also clarified that dogs showing aggressive behaviour or suffering from rabies will not be released in public spaces.
Feeding of dogs in public places is also prohibited. Instead, separate feeding zones will have to be created.
This case became the centre of attention after an earlier Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, on August 11, directed Delhi municipal authorities to catch stray dogs from all areas, especially vulnerable localities, and create shelters with a minimum capacity of 5,000 dogs within eight weeks.
That order said that dogs should not be released back on the streets. It also mandated sterilisation, vaccination, and deworming. The Court also asked for shelters to be properly maintained with CCTV, sufficient staff, food, and medical care.
The Bench had further ordered a special helpline within one week to report dog bites. If anyone reported a case, the offending dog had to be caught within four hours. Monthly reports on rabies vaccinations and treatments also had to be published.
The Court had warned that any obstruction to this exercise would be treated as contempt of court.
It also strongly noted that the problem of dog bites directly affects the fundamental rights of citizens under Articles 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution. The Court pointed out that more than 25,000 dog bite cases were reported in Delhi in 2024 and more than 3,000 cases in January 2025 alone.
In that order, the Court had also criticised animal activists, cautioning them against “virtue signalling” and ignoring the real issue of rising dog bites.
This order triggered widespread protests from animal rights groups and activists across the country.
CASE TITLE:
IN RE: CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE
SMW(C) No. 5/2025
READ LIVE COVERAGE-
IN CJI’s BENCH
NEW DELHI: In the Supreme Court, the long-debated issue of stray dogs once again came up for discussion yesterday (Aug 13).
The matter was raised by an advocate who highlighted the court’s earlier judgment on community dogs.
The advocate said:
“This is with regard to community dogs issue… There is an earlier judgment of this court which says there cannot be indiscriminate killing of canines of which Justice Karol was a part of… which says compasion for all living beings has to be there.”
In response, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai pointed out that another bench had already passed certain orders in the matter.
He said:
“But the other judge bench has already passed orders. I will look into this.”
Notably, just a few days earlier, on August 11, 2025, a bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala had directed that:
“All stray dogs in Delhi NCR shall be taken to dog shelters without exceptions.”
This issue continues to attract legal, public health, and animal rights concerns. The earlier judgment, as recalled by the advocate, emphasised that stray or community dogs cannot be killed indiscriminately, and that compassion towards all living beings is a guiding principle under Indian law.
At the same time, civic authorities and residents have been urging for effective population control and safety measures, especially in urban areas like Delhi-NCR where human-dog conflicts have been reported.
The CJI’s remark indicates that the matter may be revisited in light of earlier judgments and the more recent directions by another bench, which could lead to a harmonised approach balancing animal welfare with public safety.
ORIGINAL ORDER OF APEX COURT
The Supreme Court of India on Monday (Aug 11) gave strict orders to the Delhi Government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to immediately start removing stray dogs from every locality of Delhi, starting with the most vulnerable areas and cities.
A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan made it clear that no locality should have stray dogs roaming around and there should be absolutely no compromise in this work.
“NCT Delhi, MCD, NMDC shall at earlier start picking up stray dogs from all localities from more particularly vulnerable localities and cities. How to do it is for the authorities to look into and if they have to create a force, do it at earlier. However, this should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking any exercise,”
-the Bench said.
The judges also warned that anyone trying to stop or create problems in this work will face strict legal action from the court.
“If any individual or organization that comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance,”
-the Court added.
Along with removal, the Court ordered the Delhi Government, MCD, and NDMC to create proper dog shelters with enough staff to sterilise and vaccinate the animals.
These shelters must also be monitored through CCTV cameras.
“The State of NCT Delhi, MCD and NDMC is directed to create dog shelters and report this Court creation of such infrastructure within 8 weeks. The dog shelters should have sufficient staff to sterilize and immunize. The dog shelter would be monitored by CCTV,”
-the order said.
The Bench also took a strong stand against certain animal rights activists, questioning their role when rabies cases are causing deaths.
“All these animal activists, will they be able bring back who have fallen prey to rabies,”
– the Bench demanded.
The judges further explained that this order is being passed purely for public safety and should be implemented without emotional or sentimental objections.
“We are not doing this for us—it is for the public interest. so no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earlier. Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to far off places,”
-the Bench orally remarked.
The Supreme Court was hearing a suo motu case it had started on its own after repeated incidents of rabies infections and deaths caused by stray dog attacks.
Here are the top statements made by the Supreme Court while pronouncing the judgement:
- We need to pick up round up with whatever means to ensure dog free locality and that’s how children and aged will feel safe.
- Have you seen the classic good, bad and the ugly- when you want to shoot, shoot don’t talk. It’s not the time to talk but act. All these so-called animal lovers, will they be able to bring back those children who have given their lives?
- Municipal Corporation of Delhi is directed to make dog shelters and report about creation of infrastructure within eight weeks. It must have sufficient personnel for sterilised, dogs who would be detained there and not released in public places. It will be monitored by CCTV to monitor that no dogs are taken out.
- Infants and young children, not at any cost, should fall prey of rabies. The action should inspire confidence that they can move freely without fear of being bitten by stray dogs. No sentiments should be involved.
- Create helpline within 1 week so that all cases of dog bites and rabies are reported. Action should be taken within 4 hours to pick up dog after complaint is received and any action of individual or organisation coming in the way will be taken with stern action. The said dog will be sterilised and shall not be released.
CASE TITLE:
IN RE: CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE
SMW(C) No. 5/2025
READ ORIGINAL ORDER (JUSTICE PARDIWALA) WHICH CREATED HAVOC AROUND COUNTRY:
READ FINAL ORDER OF 3 JUDGE BENCH (AUG 22):
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