Court weighs legality and welfare concerns amid rising public safety debate
August 13, 2025 — The Supreme Court has reserved its order on a petition challenging the removal of stray dogs from the streets of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), a move that has triggered intense debate between public safety advocates and animal welfare groups.
The plea argues that removing stray dogs violates animal protection laws and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, which mandate sterilization and vaccination rather than relocation or culling. Petitioners urged the court to uphold existing regulations and protect the rights of community animals.
On the other hand, civic authorities have defended their actions, citing increasing cases of dog bites and public safety concerns in densely populated areas. They argued that urgent measures were necessary to curb incidents that threaten human life and health.
The bench, while hearing both sides, emphasized the need to balance human safety and animal rights, and hinted that its ruling would address both legal compliance and ethical considerations.
The verdict, expected in the coming weeks, is likely to set a precedent for urban animal management policies across the country.