Supreme Court circular on stray dogs on premise: ‘Dispose leftover food properly’

Supreme Court issues a directive mandating that leftover food items must be disposed of properly covered dustbins to curb stray dog roaming and prevent animal bites within court premises.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a directive mandating that leftover food items must be disposed in properly covered dustbins to curb stray dog roaming and prevent animal bites within court premises.

This order comes a day after it directed the permanent relocation of stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets to shelter homes, in a bid to "significantly reducing the risk of bites and maintaining hygiene standards."

"All leftover food items must be disposed of exclusively in properly covered dustbins. Under no circumstances should food be discarded in open areas or uncovered containers. This measure is crucial to prevent animals from being attracted to and scavenging for food, thereby significantly reducing the risk of bites and maintaining hygiene standards. Your cooperation in implementing this directive is essential for the safety of all," the circular said.

The Supreme Court’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR’s streets and confine them to shelters within eight weeks has triggered fierce backlash from animal rights activists, rescuers and political figures, with protests reportedly erupting across the capital on Monday.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, citing an "extremely grim" situation, ordered the Delhi government to ensure no strays remain in public spaces, colonies or streets. The court mandated the establishment of shelters for approximately 5,000 dogs, staffed with personnel for sterilisation and immunisation.

"We are issuing these directions keeping larger public interest in mind," the bench stressed, emphasising the need to protect “infants, young children should not at any cost fall prey to stray dog bites leading to rabies.”