India's Supreme Court on August 11, 2025, ordered the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi and its National Capital Region (NCR) within eight weeks, directing authorities including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to establish dedicated shelters for the animals. This directive aims to address a surge in dog bite incidents and rising rabies cases, particularly among children, with reports indicating over one million stray dogs in the region and tens of thousands of dog bite cases annually in India. The shelters are mandated to house at least 5,000 dogs each and provide sterilization, vaccination, and CCTV monitoring. The Supreme Court warned against any resistance to the order and criticized government and civic bodies for inaction on the stray dog crisis. The decision has sparked widespread debate and opposition from animal rights activists and organizations such as PETA India, who argue the order is impractical, illegal under existing animal birth control rules, and may lead to animal cruelty and logistical challenges given the lack of adequate shelter infrastructure. Political leaders including Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh and Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra have expressed commitment to implementing the order, while some lawmakers and activists call for a review of the judgment. The Supreme Court has since reserved its decision on pleas seeking an interim stay of the order and assigned a three-judge bench to reassess the matter amid public backlash and conflicting legal precedents. The issue has also prompted calls for similar measures in other Indian cities, with the Madras High Court urging Tamil Nadu to follow suit. The controversy highlights a national debate balancing public safety concerns with animal welfare and resource constraints, with estimates that India has approximately 75 million stray dogs and 5 million people bitten annually. The Delhi government faces challenges including an estimated daily cost of ₹11 crore to manage the stray dog population and limited shelter capacity. The Supreme Court continues to review the situation, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta emphasizing the urgency due to child fatalities from rabies and the limitations of sterilization and vaccination in preventing attacks.
🚨 STRAY DOGS ORDER SPARKS NATIONAL DEBATE AS SC RESERVES VERDICT Supreme Court reserves its verdict on pleas challenging the August 11 directive to remove stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets; Kapil Sibal and activists argue lack of shelters and violation of ABC Rules, while https://t.co/BzByls8tIA
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So Indian X is still debating about the stray dog issue https://t.co/RFzdebtxrm