Stray dogs case: Did not order removal from street, only from institutions, claims Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday resumed the hearings on the stray dog issue, with a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria.

The bench observed that dogs and cats are “natural enemies" and remarked that promoting cats could help control rodent populations. The bench, however, clarified the scope of its earlier directions, stressing that it had not ordered the removal of every stray dog from the streets.

According to News18, the court underlined that its focus was on strict compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules and reiterated that it had only directed the removal of dogs from institutional areas. Raising concerns over safety in sensitive spaces, the bench asked how many dogs should be allowed to roam hospital wards and around patients, indicating that public health and safety remained central to its considerations.

Counsel for one of the petitioners told the Supreme Court that feeding zones themselves have become a source of nuisance, as the concentration of dogs in such areas poses difficulties for local residents. The counsel also flagged violations by some pet owners,

The top court on Wednesday expressed concern over the increasing number of dog bite incidents in the country and said that authorities have failed to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules.