Breaking: Supreme Court Reserves Order on Stray Dogs; Focus on Civic Failures, Practicality of Shelter Plan

The Supreme Court has begun hearing a crucial case regarding stray dogs, with a three-judge bench currently examining the issue. The Delhi government’s lawyer, Tushar Mehta, argued that stray dogs cause significant public distress, citing around 3.7 million dog bite cases annually and deaths due to rabies. However, dog lovers’ representatives, including senior lawyers like Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, raised concerns about the practical implementation of the Court’s earlier orders, which directed stray dogs be removed from residential areas and kept in shelter homes. They highlighted that there are insufficient shelter facilities and sterilization efforts have been inadequate, causing an uncontrolled increase in stray dog populations. They object to the immediate capture and relocation of dogs without proper shelter arrangements. Singhvi also contested the government’s rabies death statistics, claiming official parliamentary data shows almost zero deaths, while the government relied on WHO data citing 18,000 deaths. The animal lovers argue that the government failed to follow animal birth control rules, contributing to the problem. They urge the Court to suspend the enforcement of the previous order until detailed hearings occur and proper facilities are in place. The Court’s decision must balance public safety concerns with humane treatment of animals, addressing both the risks posed by aggressive stray dogs and the absence of adequate infrastructure to care for them.