Larger Supreme Court bench to hear Delhi dogs case today amid backlash

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has reassigned a high-profile suo motu case concerning stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to a newly formed three-judge bench, set to hear the matter on August 14, 2025. The decision follows intense public and legal scrutiny of an earlier court directive to capture and relocate stray dogs, prompting the court to shift the case from its previous bench to one comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria. The new bench will address multiple petitions, including fresh challenges to the roundup of stray dogs, with four related cases scheduled for tomorrow’s hearing.

On August 10, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a stern order directing civic authorities across Delhi and the National Capital Region, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad, to immediately capture and sterilize stray dogs and relocate them to shelters permanently. The court emphasized that these animals must not be returned to public spaces, mandating the creation of dog shelters within eight weeks. These facilities, the court specified, must be equipped with adequate staff to sterilize, deworm, and vaccinate the dogs, ensuring their care without release. The shelters will be monitored via CCTV to prevent unauthorized releases, with an initial target of housing 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks.

The court acknowledged concerns about the welfare of relocated dogs, stressing that they must not face cruelty, mistreatment, or starvation. To ensure humane conditions, the justices directed that shelters avoid overcrowding, provide regular feeding, and employ at least two responsible staff members with a proper duty roster. Timely veterinary care from trained professionals was also mandated, with provisions for separating vulnerable or weak dogs where feasible.

The case, initially triggered by rising incidents of dog bites and rabies, has sparked significant backlash from animal welfare groups, who argue the mass relocation order is impractical and potentially unlawful. India Today reported protests in Delhi, highlighting the ongoing tension between public safety concerns and animal rights advocacy.