New Delhi, May 19: Municipal authorities must continue the immediate removal and permanent relocation of stray dogs from public spaces, the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday.
The judicial decision dismissed a series of legal challenges against the standard operating procedures formulated by the Animal Welfare Board of India. The bench, led by Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria, determined that existing animal control frameworks have remained uneven, underfunded, and sporadic across various regional jurisdictions.
The apex court observed that a significant increase in canine attacks within critical institutional sectors required decisive legal action. The justices affirmed that federal and state governments are constitutionally obligated to protect vulnerable citizens, specifically noting that public spaces should not operate under conditions where residents must rely on physical strength to avoid injury.
“The state cannot remain a passive spectator,” the bench asserted during the announcement of the verdict.
According to the finalized order, the National Highways Authority of India and state transport departments must coordinate to clear all stray animals from national highways and expressways using specialized transport vehicles. The ruling also mandates that state medical departments maintain consistent stocks of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins in all public health facilities.
The panel finalized its judgment by providing legal protections for municipal employees carrying out containment duties in good faith, barring the filing of criminal proceedings against them. The court instructed high courts across the country to register independent monitoring cases to ensure municipal boards comply fully with the relocation directives without further delay.
