The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a stern warning that it may fix liability on both civic authorities and dog feeders for injuries or deaths caused by stray dog attacks.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, N.V. Anjaria, and Sandeep Mehta observed that states must be held accountable for failing to make requisite safety arrangements. “For every dog bite, for every death, we will likely be fixing compensation for states… and also liability to dog feeders,” the bench noted, emphasising that the trauma of a dog bite often lasts a lifetime.
From streets to homes: The licensing debate
These oral observations came during a suo motu hearing on the stray dog menace. Last week, the court focused on the presence of stray dogs within institutional premises, citing a clear failure by municipal authorities to manage the issue.
During the hearing, Justice Mehta asked who will bear responsibility when a stray dog attacks someone. The court also underlined that stray dogs cannot be in anyone’s possession. It also observed that those who are interested in keeping a dog should follow the licensing process.
The legal tug-of-war: NGOs vs. Victim Groups
According to LiveLaw, dog lovers and NGOs have sought changes to earlier directions so that dogs are released back into the same locality from where they were picked up. They have also suggested scientific measures that could reduce the dog population and incidents over time.
The victims’, meanwhile, appealed for the removal of stray dogs from residential complexes and housing societies.
Senior advocate Percival Billimoria submitted that the problem prevails because the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program has not been implemented effectively. He also cited issues like under-capacity and corruption. He also highlighted the absence of a proper census of stray dogs, which the bench questioned.
The court also observed that repeated arguments were made and emphasised the need to hold authorities accountable.
The Supreme Court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking changes to its November 7, 2025, order, which has directed authorities to remove stray dogs from institutional areas and roads. During Tuesday’s hearing, the bench raised concern that rules on stray animal management have not been properly executed for nearly five years. The court stated that states could be asked to pay heavy compensation for dog bite cases related to deaths or injuries, especially affecting the elderly and children, if authorities failed to take action.