All Delhi-NCR Stray Dogs To Be Moved In Shelters Within 8 Weeks: Supreme Court's BIG Decision

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The Supreme Court of India on Monday ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR must be picked from the streets within eight weeks and kept in shelters. The court has directed municipal bodies and other agencies to work together to set up enough shelter facilities in this period. The aim is to ensure that stray dogs are safely housed and not left in public spaces, thus reducing the dog bite cases. 

Authorities have been told to assist in the given work and complete the task on time. This order is expected to bring relief to residents while ensuring the animals are in a safe and controlled environment.

Authorities, including the Delhi government, MCD, NDMC, and municipal bodies in Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad have been instructed to coordinate efforts to create safe shelters within the specified timeline. Shelters must be staffed adequately and equipped for sterilisation and vaccination, the SC said.

The Key Directives instructed by the Supreme Court are: Capture and relocate stray dogs from vulnerable zones, Maintain daily logs of captured dogs and ensure none are released back onto the streets and begin shelter infrastructure development and report progress within eight weeks.

The court’s intervention has come amid alarming reports of rabies cases and dog bite incidents, especially affecting children and the elderly. The court described the situation as “extremely grim,” and called for urgent action to safeguard public health.

In response, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has approved upgrades to its Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres. These include microchipping sterilised dogs, enhanced vaccination programs, and improved tracking systems with regular health checks. 

Environmentalist Maneka Gandhi and other officials endorsed a long-term rehabilitation plan in collaboration with NGOs.