New Delhi, May 19: In a significant judgment prioritising public safety and institutional security, the Supreme Court of India has upheld its earlier directions ordering the removal of stray dogs from sensitive public spaces including schools, colleges, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots, railway stations and airports across the country.
The 131-page judgment was delivered in the matter titled In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”, where the apex court examined multiple petitions filed by animal welfare organisations seeking modification and recall of its November 7, 2025 directions.
The Supreme Court observed that the increasing incidents of dog attacks and stray animal intrusions in educational institutions, hospitals, transport hubs and public facilities pose a serious threat to citizens’ safety and directly affect the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The court noted that children, patients, elderly citizens and commuters have increasingly become victims of stray dog attacks in institutional areas, calling the situation a result of “systemic administrative lapses” and lack of coordination among authorities.
Supreme Court’s Key Directions
The apex court directed all state governments, municipal bodies and authorities to immediately identify and secure institutional premises such as schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, inter-state bus terminals and railway stations.
The court ordered:
- Immediate removal of stray dogs from institutional premises,
- Sterilisation and vaccination of such animals,
- Shifting of stray dogs to designated shelters,
- Prohibition on releasing such dogs back into the same institutional locations,
- Strengthening fencing, gates and structural barriers in institutions,
- Regular inspections by municipal authorities,
- Mandatory anti-rabies vaccine stock in hospitals,
- Awareness programmes in schools regarding dog-bite prevention.
In one of the most significant observations of the judgment, the Supreme Court specifically ruled that stray dogs picked up from schools, hospitals, railway stations and other institutional areas “shall not be released back to the same location.”
The bench said allowing reintroduction of stray dogs into such spaces would defeat the very purpose of ensuring public safety and securing institutional premises.
Court Rejects Animal Welfare Groups’ Argument
Several animal welfare organisations argued before the court that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 require sterilised dogs to be released back to the same locality from where they were captured.
However, the Supreme Court rejected this interpretation and held that hospitals, schools, airports, sports complexes and railway stations cannot be treated as ordinary public streets under the ABC Rules.
The court clarified that stray dogs do not possess an “absolute right” to occupy every public or institutional space and that sensitive premises must remain secure, sterile and obstruction-free.
The judgment further stated that institutional spaces are frequented by vulnerable sections such as children, patients and elderly citizens and therefore require a controlled and hazard-free environment.
Public Safety Under Article 21 Highlighted
The Supreme Court strongly emphasised that the right to life under Article 21 includes:
- Safe public spaces,
- Freedom of movement,
- Public health,
- Protection from hazards and preventable attacks.
The bench observed that the unchecked stray dog population has created a growing public safety crisis across India and has significantly affected mobility and daily life, especially for vulnerable citizens.
Financial Burden Also Discussed
During hearings, animal welfare groups informed the court that implementing such directions nationwide could require:
- Over 77,000 dog shelters,
- Thousands of acres of land,
- Annual expenditure exceeding ₹22,000 crore,
- Large-scale staffing and veterinary infrastructure.
The Supreme Court examined these logistical and financial concerns in detail while analysing the implementation mechanism.
Supreme Court Reaffirms Earlier Order
In its final findings, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its November 2025 directions and ruled that educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, airports, bus depots and railway stations cannot be considered “street localities” for the purpose of re-releasing stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
The court held that ensuring public safety, institutional security and constitutional protection of citizens remains paramount while implementing animal welfare laws.
