GS2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Context:
Recently, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of Delhi’s escalating stray dog menace and directed the Delhi government, civic bodies and authorities of Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad to relocate stray dogs from the streets to dedicated shelters.
Highlights of Supreme Court Directions
- Urgent and Mandatory Capture: Court ordered the capture and detention of stray dogs beginning from high-risk zones at the earliest, warning that anyone obstructing the drive would face contempt of court.
- Immediate Shelter and Infrastructure: Authorities were directed to construct shelters for 5,000–6,000 stray dogs within six to eight weeks, ensuring these facilities are staffed for sterilisation, vaccination, and proper care, and mandating submission of a status report within eight weeks.
- Confinement: Directions to maintain a daily record of stray dogs captured and detained along with strict CCTV surveillance of shelters to ensure that no dogs are released back into public areas under any circumstances.
- Safety over Sentiments: The ruling stressed that “infants and young children must not, at any cost, fall prey to rabies,” making public safety the principal concern.
- Helpline and victim support: Authorities were ordered to set up a dedicated animal helpline within one week to register all dog-bite and rabies-related complaints and to ensure immediate medical assistance and anti-rabies vaccine tracking for victims.
Arguments in Favour
High Number of Dogs: Delhi has nearly 10 lakh stray dogs, but only 4.7 lakh were sterilised by 2023. In just the first half of 2025, there were 35,000+ dog bites and 90,000 hospital cases, putting public health at risk. The threat of fatal rabies highlights the urgent need for effective control measures.
Right to Safe Mobility: Strengthens citizens’ right to security under Article 21, promoting public confidence and freedom of movement without fear.
Fixing Policy Gaps: Addresses the Animal Birth Control program’s return loophole, shifting focus to tangible results over mere procedural compliance.
- There is no national law in India that requires dog owners to register their pets. A few cities have such rules, but enforcement remains shoddy. It is not mandatory to get pets sterilised or vaccinated either.
Integrated Urban Health Approach: Supports public health and sanitation goals, aligning urban policies with the ethics of collective well-being.
Arguments in Against
- Legal Inconsistency: The approach may clash with existing Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, undermining legal stability and the rule of law.
- Strain on Infrastructure: Without proper facilities, mass sheltering could lead to overcrowded, inhumane conditions, violating animal welfare standards.
- Ethical Animal Rights Issues: Detaining all strays may be seen as disregarding animals’ inherent rights, challenging principles of compassion and environmental ethics.
- Disruption to Urban Ecology: Sudden stray removal could upset ecological balance, as dogs help control pests and manage waste, playing a role in the urban ecosystem.
- Potential for Misuse: Lack of strong safeguards could open doors to hidden cruelty or illegal culling, creating a moral hazard under weak enforcement.
Way Forward
- Ethical Shelter Design: Ensure shelters offer sufficient space, proper nutrition, and medical care, upholding the dignity and well-being of animals in line with humane values.
- Preventive Health Strategy: Adopt widespread vaccination campaigns to control rabies, focusing on disease prevention over displacement.
- Responsible Adoption Framework: Promote carefully screened adoptions to combine compassion with accountability, ensuring animals are placed in safe, suitable homes.
- Legal-Ethical Alignment: Update the ABC Rules to reflect Supreme Court directives, bridging the gap between legal frameworks and ethical responsibilities.