On August 11, the Supreme Court directed Delhi-NCR authorities to remove all stray dogs from localities and house them in shelters, ruling that they cannot return to the streets.

Calling stray dog bite incidents “extremely grim,” the bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan warned that anyone obstructing the removal process could face contempt proceedings.

The court questioned whether animal activists could “bring life back” to children who died from rabies, emphasising the need for decisive action.

Authorities in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad must set up shelters for about 5,000 dogs within 6–8 weeks, equipped with staff for sterilisation, immunisation, and care, along with CCTV surveillance.

The court ordered immediate removal of strays from high-risk localities and outskirts, directing civic bodies to create dedicated teams for the operation.