Supreme Court orders removal of stray dogs, cattle from public areas

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the immediate relocation of stray dogs from institutional areas such as schools, hospitals, sports complexes, railway stations, and bus stands to designated shelters after sterilisation and vaccination.

A three -judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria said the animals should not be released back to the same locations. The court took note of the alarming rise in dog bite incidents and called it a “systemic failure” of the administration to protect citizens’ safety under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The bench also directed authorities to remove cattle and other stray animals from national and state highways as well as expressways, citing frequent accidents. Municipal bodies, panchayats, and transport departments have been ordered to conduct joint drives to identify vulnerable stretches and relocate animals to shelters.

The court instructed that institutional premises must be secured through fencing, gates, and other structural measures to prevent stray dog entry, with inspections every three months. Any lapse will invite strict accountability from local officials. Hospitals have been told to maintain mandatory stocks of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin, while educational institutions must conduct awareness sessions on animal behaviour, first-aid for bites, and reporting procedures.

The bench observed that India still records one of the world’s highest rates of rabies -related deaths, with over 90 per cent of human cases caused by dog bites. It said children, the elderly, and the poor are most affected due to limited access to post-exposure treatment.

The court reaffirmed earlier directions of the Rajasthan High Court and ordered all states and Union Territories to file compliance affidavits within eight weeks, detailing measures to secure public areas and ensure vaccine availability. The matter will be heard next on January 13.