Supreme Court's stray dogs order: What changes now? 5 points on old vs new ruling
The Supreme Court modified the direction passed by a two-judge bench on August 11 that stray dogs, which are picked up from the Delhi National Capital Region, must not be released.
The Supreme Court modified its August 11 order on Friday in connection with relocation of the stray dogs in Delhi-NCR in shelters. The Supreme Court said the earlier court direction on picking up stray dogs shall remain.
However, the court said, these dogs – except those infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour – must be released to their original areas after sterilisation and vaccination.
The Supreme Court also ordered that no public feeding of dogs will be allowed, and dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs to be created in the Delhi-NCR area. The court said there have been instances due to such feeding instances.
List of all modifications direted by Supreme Court:
1. Municipal authorities shall comply with para 12, 12.1 and 12.2; prohibition on release of strays shall be stayed. "They shall be dewormed, vaccinated etc and sent back to the same area," Bar and Bench quoted Justice Vikram Nath as saying.
2. Dogs with aggressive behavior or with rabies shall be immunised and not be released.
3. No public feeding of dogs will be allowed.
4. Dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs to be created. "Under no condition feeding of stray dogs permitted. If violated, they will be proceeded under law," the court said, as per Live Law.
5. The directions in para 13 are reiterated with a modification: Any public or organisation shall not obstruct such services.
“Each individual dog lover and NGO that has approached this court shall deposit ₹25,000 and 2 lakh, respectively, with the registry of this court within a period of seven days, failing which they shall not be allowed to appear in the matter any further,” the court said.
“The amount deposited shall be used for the creation of infrastructure and facilities for stray dogs under the aegis of respective Municipal bodies,” the court added.
6. Animal lovers can move application before MCD for adoption of dogs
7. MCD will create helpline number for violation
Old order Vs New order: 5 changes
| Old order (August 11) | New order (August 22) |
| Direction to MCD, NDMC, Delhi government, authorities of NOIDA, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad: 'start picking up stray dogs from all localities'; use force where need be. | Earlier court direction on picking up stray dogs shall REMAIN. |
| The stray dogs shall be captured, sterilized, dewormed and immunized as required by Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and as noted above, shall not be released under any circumstances. | Captured dogs shall be dewormed, vaccinated and released back to the same area. Dogs with rabies or aggressive behavior shall not be released. |
| No adoption should result in the re-release of a stray dog back on to the streets. | It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the adopted stray dogs do not return to the streets. |
| If any individual or any organisation comes in the way of forceful picking up of the stray dogs and rounding them up, and if it is reported to us, we shall proceed to take the strictest of actions against any such resistance which may be offered. | Any public or organisation shall not obstruct such services. Dog lovers and NGOs shall deposit 25,000 and 2 lakhs with the registrar. |
| Authorities directed to immediately create dog shelters/pounds and report to this Court the creation of such infrastructure all over the National Capital Region (NCR), within a period of eight weeks from today. | No public feeding of dogs allowed.Stray dogs must be fed only in dedicated feeding spaces. Dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs to be created. |
(With inputs from Bar and Bench and Live Law)
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