Stray Dogs Supreme Court Hearing LIVE Updates: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved the order on interim plea seeking stay on SC’s earlier directive of removing all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR. Justice Nath, who led the 3-judge bench pulled up the local authorities and said that they have not been doing their duty. He further pointed to their absence in the court saying that they are not present in court to take responsibility. “Everyone who has come here to file intervention should take responsibility,” he said.
The Centre told the Supreme Court during the hearing that children are dying from rabies caused by dog bites and that the stray dog problem needs to be solved rather than debated.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, informed a three-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath that more than 37 lakh dog bite cases are reported in the country each year. “Nobody is an animal hater,” Mehta told the bench, which also included Justices Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing an NGO that cares for dogs, said the situation was “very serious” and needed a detailed hearing. He requested a stay on parts of the Supreme Court’s August 11 order, including the direction to authorities in Delhi-NCR to start removing stray dogs from all neighbourhoods “at the earliest” and moving them to shelters.
The issue has triggered significant backlash where people have taken to streets and are staunchly voicing their opinions on various platforms like prime time debates and on social media. The crackdown began when the SC directed civil authorities on Monday to permanently relocate all the stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters.
Earlier, the case was heard by two judges, namely Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan, who gave the, now controversial directive. However, after much deliberation and backlash, CJI BR Gavai on Wednesday said that he will look into the issue.
Delhi stray dog relocation drive: The problem
According to the official data quoted by PTI, Delhi has recorded 26,000 dog bite cases so far this year. Till July 31, there have been 49 rabies cases. And between January and June, more than 65,000 stray dogs were sterilised and vaccinated.
The two-judge bench had said that their ruling aims to protect public interest and should be carried out without any emotional bias. They stressed the need for quick action and questioned whether animal activists could bring back lives lost to rabies. The judges said the goal is to make streets completely free of stray dogs.
Animal lovers’ defence: The argument
While many seem to agree with SC’s earlier directive, dog lovers and animal right groups have spoken against it. Many celebrities, politicians have asked for careful consideration by the Apex Court. Animal lovers argue that the Delhi government does not have its own shelters and hence the ruling is unrealistic and cruel. Officials have also claimed that the state government does have hospitals, but all the shelters are currently managed by NGOs.
They argue that moving lakhs of dogs off the streets would not control their population, reduce rabies, or stop dog bites because building enough shelters in such less amount of time is impossible. In fact, such removals often lead to territorial fights, starvation, and dogs eventually return to the same areas, especially when new puppies are born.
Many activists have also pointed out that the growing stray dog population in Delhi shows the failure to run a proper sterilisation programme. They said the focus should be on an effective sterilisation drive instead of spending public money and effort on cruel and ineffective removal campaigns.
SC hearing on Delhi's stray dog matter - Key highlights here:
SC hearing on stray dogs Live: SC reserves order on interim plea seeking stay of suo motu directive
The Supreme Court has reserved order on the interim plea which sought the stay on suo motu directive.
SC hearing on stray dogs Live: Court slams local authorities
Justice Nath slammed the local authorities and said that they are not doing what they should have been doing and they are not in the court to take responsibility. "Everyone who has come here to file intervention should take responsibility," he said.
SC hearing on stray dogs Live: 'SC's directive wouldn't have been an issue if...'
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court that, despite good intentions, the order was putting the cart before the horse. He said the directions would not be an issue if shelters already existed. Singhvi accused Tushar Mehta of creating bias in advance and pointed out that the government had told Parliament there were no recorded dog bite cases in Delhi this year. He reminded the court that six earlier Supreme Court orders had called for following the Animal Birth Control Rules which means sterilising dogs humanely and rehabilitating them, rather than rushing to pick them up within 24 hours.
SC hearing on stray dogs Live: 'Where will they take the dogs once they pick them up? ' asks Sibal
Kapil Sibal urged the court that the order to round up stray dogs from all neighbourhoods in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and other areas and move them to shelters or pounds, should be put on hold, as such facilities do not currently exist. He said that he had no objection to the instruction to create shelters, but the order to keep dogs from being released could not be implemented either, given the absence of shelters in the first place. Sibal informed the court that he is representing Project Kindness which is an NGO which looks after dogs.
SC hearing on stray dogs Live: 'Can't pass an order like this Suo Moto without any notice,' argues Kapil Sibal
In response to Mehta's claims, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that this was the first time he had heard the Solicitor General acknowledge there is a law and set of rules in place but then suggest they should be ignored. He said parliamentary laws and the Animal Birth Control rules must be followed. Sibal questioned what the municipal corporation had done over the years, whether it had built shelters or carried out sterilisation drives. He claimed there is funding available but it is misused, and criticised the court for issuing such a suo motu order without giving notice.
SC hearing on stray dogs Live: '10,000 dog bite cases everyday', Centre tells Court
Mehta appearing from the Centre's side told the Apex Court that India records about 37 lakh dog bite cases every year, nearly 10,000 a day, and 305 rabies deaths in the same period, though WHO estimates suggest the real figure is higher. He said no one is against animals, but the situation has become so serious that children cannot safely play outside. Speaking in his personal capacity, he urged the court to find a practical solution, saying the answer may not lie in the existing rules. He described the matter as a clash between the loud voices of a small group and the quiet suffering of the majority.
SC hearing on stray dogs Live: 'Sterilization does not stop rabies,' Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tells the court
The hearing has begun. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta started off by saying that there is a loud minority that is vocal and silent majority that is suffering. He said that he had seen people posting videos of eating meat, and then claiming to be animal lovers. He further added that children are dying due to dog bites and rabies. "Sterilization does not stop rabies. Even if you immunize that does not stop mutilation of children," Mehta said to the court.
SC hearing on stray dogs Live: MCD has picked up 100 dogs since SC's directive
Since the Supreme Court’s order to relocate stray dogs, the MCD has picked up 100 dogs and turned the city’s 20 Animal Birth Control centres into shelters, Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh told PTI on Wednesday.
He added that the MCD has identified an 85-acre plot in outer Delhi to house more strays and is searching for additional land to build more shelters. The relocation will be carried out in phases, starting with dogs that are aggressive or infected with rabies.
SC Hearing on Stray Dogs Live: Animal lovers and rights activists hold candlelight march
After the Supreme Court ordered that all stray dogs be removed from the streets of Delhi-NCR within eight weeks, animal lovers and rights activists held a candlelight march in Rohini on Wednesday night. The ruling has drawn strong criticism from celebrities, activists, and political leaders alike.
SC Hearing on Stray Dogs Live: What did SC's original order say that led to the controversy?
SC in its recent order on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, had said it is the judiciary’s duty to have the courage to remind people of uncomfortable truths, even if they are unpopular. The August 11 order, uploaded on the court’s website on Wednesday, was issued by a bench of Justices J. B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan. It directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to begin removing stray dogs from all neighbourhoods as soon as possible and relocating them to shelters. The court also stressed that the judiciary should not be swayed by public opinion or popular emotions. Instead, its role is to uphold the lasting principles of justice, fairness, and moral conscience.
SC Hearing on Stray Dogs Live: Who are the judges hearing the matter today?
After the uproar over the directive given by SC's two-judge bench, the matter will be heard by a 3-judges bench, namely - Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria.
SC Hearing on Stray Dogs Live: Apex Court to begin hearing at 10:30 am
A larger Supreme Court bench, comprising of three judges, is set to hear the matter regarding permanent relocation of Delhi-NCR stray dogs to shelters. The hearing will begin at 10:30 am and here we will bring to you all the live updates straight from the courtroom. Keep watching this space.