The Supreme Court of India on October 31, 2025, firmly rejected the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s plea seeking exemption for Chief Secretaries of states and Union Territories from appearing physically in the ongoing stray dog menace case. Instead, the two-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta mandated the Chief Secretaries’ in-person presence at the court on November 3, emphasizing the gravity of their non-compliance with earlier court orders.

Justice Nath expressed strong dissatisfaction with the continual disregard of the court’s directives, stating, “When we require them to come and file compliance affidavits, they are just sleeping over it. No respect for the order of the court.” The bench observed that these issues should have been resolved by the respective state governments much earlier, and Parliament’s framing of rules has remained ineffective without practical enforcement. Justice Nath further warned that the court would take stern actions against defaulting officers if they fail to comply.

The court’s insistence on physical appearance comes amid the backdrop of a suo motu case initiated in July 2025, focusing on the rising incidents of dog bites and rabies across the country, particularly in the National Capital Region. On August 22, 2025, the Supreme Court expanded the case beyond Delhi-NCR, implementing uniform application of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules and requiring all states and Union Territories to act, making them parties to the matter.

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As of late October, only West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had filed compliance affidavits, prompting the court to summon Chief Secretaries from all other states and UTs except these two for November 3. The court expressed disappointment over continued delays despite widespread media coverage and public concern, emphasizing the impact of non-action on India's international image.

The Supreme Court's firm stance underscores the judiciary's resolve to hold top bureaucrats accountable in addressing the stray dog menace—a public health and safety issue. The hearings on November 3 will be crucial in determining how effectively states have implemented required measures and complied with court orders aimed at humane and consistent stray dog management across India.

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