The Supreme Court clarified on Thursday that it has not issued a directive for the removal of all stray dogs from public spaces, emphasizing that animals must be managed in accordance with existing rules. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria continued hearings in the suo motu case on stray dog management, with submissions from dog lovers, victims of bites, and animal rights activists.

Senior Advocate CU Singh, representing animal welfare groups, highlighted the ecological role of dogs, noting their contribution to controlling pests such as rats. He advocated for the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules, which involve sterilization and releasing dogs back into the same area. Singh cautioned that keeping dogs in crowded shelters could exacerbate the spread of diseases.

Justice Mehta raised questions about population dynamics, including the relationship between dogs, cats, and rats. Singh explained that dogs in open spaces such as university campuses and railway zones cannot be fully contained, underscoring the importance of properly executed ABC programs. The Court also observed widespread violations of ABC rules across multiple states despite prior directives.

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Senior Advocate Krishnan Venugopal pointed to systemic challenges, including insufficient budgetary allocations and manpower shortages. He noted that with over 5.2 crore dogs in India and only 66 recognized ABC centers, scaling up sterilization efforts would require significant investment and trained personnel. Venugopal also emphasized the need for additional veterinary training to conduct mass sterilizations effectively.

Representing BJP leader Vijay Goel, counsel raised concerns over unclear definitions of “violent dogs” and cited incidents where dogs released after temporary confinement went on to bite multiple people. The Court reiterated its concern over rising dog bite incidents and the failure of municipal authorities to enforce ABC rules effectively, noting that stray animals also contribute to road accidents and public safety risks.

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