The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi government, the governments of states in the National Capital Region, along with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD),and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to capture and relocate stray dogs from all neighborhoods, particularly those considered most vulnerable. This will be implemented in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad by their municipal bodies respectively.
The Apex Court gave directions under the bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, who emphasized that no locality should be left compromised in this effort. The court stated that the authorities may even form a special task force to execute the operation swiftly and efficiently.
The bench further said that this should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking the exercise. The order posted on August 13 said any hindrance or obstruction that may be caused by any individual or organization in the smooth and effective implementation of our aforesaid directions will be viewed as contempt of this Court and we shall proceed to take appropriate action in accordance with law.
Reflecting the court’s frustration over previous legal challenges that had slowed efforts to tackle the growing crisis,the court was sharply critical of animal rights groups, asking pointedly, “Will these activists be able to bring back those who have already fallen victim to rabies?”
Authorities have been instructed to establish dedicated shelters within eight weeks. These facilities must be equipped with staff to sterilize and immunize the dogs, and include CCTV monitoring to ensure no animal is released back onto the streets.
Additionally, the court directed the creation of a 24/7 helpline within one week to report dog bite incidents. Any reported stray dog must be captured within four hours, and authorities are also required to publish monthly updates on rabies vaccine availability and usage.
These measures stem from pressing public safety concerns, as Delhi continues to grapple with increasing instances of dog bites and the risk of contracting rabies.