Today, On 7th November, in the Stray Dogs Row, Supreme Court Orders States and UTs to Act on Amicus Report, Remove Stray Cattle from Highways and Expressways, Set Up Patrol Teams, and File Compliance Reports Within Three Weeks to Curb Rising Dog Bite Fatalities Nationwide.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday took serious note of the growing number of fatalities caused by stray dog attacks and issued a set of detailed directions to all States and Union Territories.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria heard the suo motu case and passed an elaborate order addressing both stray dog and stray cattle issues on public roads and institutional premises.
The order began with the bench stating,
“This order is divided into three parts. The report submitted by the amicus curiae is hereby accepted and made a part of this order. All States and Union Territories are directed to file comprehensive affidavits ensuring compliance with both the Court’s directions and the recommendations contained in the amicus report.”
The bench further reaffirmed the earlier directions of the Rajasthan High Court concerning stray cattle. The Supreme Court said that the Public Works Department, municipal bodies, and road and transport authorities must take immediate steps to remove stray cattle from highways and expressways and ensure their rehabilitation in designated shelters.
Each concerned authority has been directed to establish a dedicated highway patrol team to monitor and report the presence of stray cattle on highways and expressways. The Court also ordered that all National Highways must have helpline numbers for reporting stray animals. The Chief Secretaries of all States have been instructed to ensure the strict implementation of these measures.
The Court also required the submission of status and compliance affidavits within three weeks from the date of the order.
The Order states,
“Further, the directions previously issued by the Rajasthan High Court are reaffirmed, insofar as they require the Public Works Department, municipal bodies, and road and transport authorities to remove stray cattle from highways and expressways and to ensure their immediate rehabilitation in designated shelters. Each concerned authority shall establish a dedicated highway patrol team to monitor and report the presence of stray cattle on highways and expressways. Additionally, all National Highways must have helpline numbers for reporting stray animals. The Chief Secretaries of all States are directed to ensure strict implementation of these directions.”
Addressing another key concern, the bench focused on the alarming increase in dog bite incidents within institutional areas. The Court directed that all State Governments and Union Territories must, within two weeks, identify all government and private educational and healthcare institutions and ensure that their premises are properly secured, including fencing, to prevent the entry of stray dogs.
Each institution’s management has been instructed to appoint a nodal officer responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the premises. Local municipal bodies or panchayats are also directed to conduct inspections every three months to ensure continued compliance.
Importantly, the Court ordered that stray dogs captured from such institutional areas must not be released back to the same location, observing that doing so would undermine the purpose of these directions and the measures intended to regulate stray dog issues within institutional zones.
The Court order further states,
“Status and compliance affidavits shall be submitted within three weeks from today. The third direction pertains to institutional areas. In view of the alarming increase in dog bite incidents within such areas, the following directions are issued: The State Governments and Union Territories shall, within two weeks, identify all government and private educational and healthcare institutions and ensure that their premises are properly secured such as by fencing to prevent the entry of stray dogs. Each institution’s management shall appoint a nodal officer responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the premises. Local municipal bodies or panchayats shall conduct inspections of these premises at least once every three months. Stray dogs that are captured from such institutional areas shall not be released back to the same location, as doing so would undermine the purpose of these directions and the measures taken to regulate the issue within institutional zones.”
Also Read: Stray Dogs Row: Supreme Court to Hear Suo Motu Case on October 27
Earlier, On 31st October, The Supreme Court reprimanded states for ignoring its directives in the stray dogs case, ordering all Chief Secretaries to appear in physically. Justice Vikram Nath said authorities had been “sleeping over” the Court’s orders despite ample time given.
Previously, 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 suo motu case was initiated on July 28, following media reports of rising stray dog attacks and rabies cases, particularly among children in Delhi.
Earlier order of August 11, passed by a Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, had created huge controversy. That order had directed that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR must be caught and sent to shelters within eight weeks.
Case Title: In Re: City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price vs. State of Andhra Pradesh
Case No.: SMW(C) No. 5/2025
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