Supreme Court Directs Nationwide Removal Of Stray Dogs From Schools, Hospitals, Bus Depots And Railway Stations
Kiran Raj
The Supreme Court of India, Three-Judge Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria directed all States, Union Territories, and the Union of India to enforce comprehensive measures to control and manage stray dogs in institutional areas, including schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots, and railway stations. The Court ordered that these premises be secured through fencing and supervision, with nodal officers appointed to ensure regular inspections and prompt removal of stray dogs by municipal bodies. It mandated that hospitals maintain a constant stock of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins, and instructed the Animal Welfare Board of India to frame uniform Standard Operating Procedures within four weeks, ensuring humane and consistent implementation of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
The case arose as a suo motu proceeding initiated by the Supreme Court of India concerning the growing menace of stray dogs and related incidents of attacks across public spaces in the country. The matter was heard by a Three-Judge Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice N.V. Anjaria. The Court considered multiple connected proceedings, including special leave petitions and writ petitions arising from related issues pending before various High Courts, as well as compliance and contempt petitions associated with earlier orders.
The dispute primarily involved public safety concerns arising from unrestrained stray dog populations and insufficient implementation of sterilisation and vaccination programs under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The municipal authorities, State Governments, Union Territories, and the National Highways Authority of India were the key administrative respondents, while the learned Amicus Curiae, Shri Gaurav Agrawal, assisted the Court by compiling compliance summaries and recommendations.
The amicus submitted a consolidated report highlighting “grave deficiencies and shortcomings” in compliance by certain States and Union Territories, particularly regarding sterilisation, vaccination, and sheltering of stray dogs. The Court also considered reports of frequent stray dog attacks in educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots, and railway stations, supported by documented news accounts.
The statutory framework examined included the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023. The Court further took note of its previous orders dated August 11, 2025, August 22, 2025, and October 27, 2025, which had directed municipal and highway authorities to act in coordination to remove and rehabilitate stray animals. The present proceedings addressed continued non-compliance and the need for a uniform national framework for managing stray dog populations in public and institutional areas.
The Court observed that “accidents caused by cattle and other stray animals on public roads and highways have become alarmingly frequent across the country” and that such events “are not isolated but symptomatic of a larger failure on the part of the administrative authorities entrusted with public safety.” It recorded that “the uncontrolled presence of cattle and stray animals on National Highways, National Expressways, and State Highways constitutes a serious and avoidable threat, particularly during night-time or in high-speed zones.”
The Bench stated that “preventable accidents reflect administrative indifference and undermine the constitutional guarantee of the right to life and safety under Article 21.” It recorded that “the need for immediate, coordinated, and sustained action by all concerned agencies… cannot be overstated.”
The Court observed that “the disturbing increase in dog-bite incidents within the premises of educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands/depots and railway stations… reflects not only administrative apathy but also a systemic failure to secure these premises from preventable hazards.” It stated that “the situation calls for immediate judicial intervention to safeguard the fundamental right to life and safety of citizens, especially children, patients, and sportspersons, under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”
The Bench recorded that “despite significant advances in public health, India continues to report one of the world’s highest statistics of rabies-related mortality,” adding that “over 90% of human cases result from bites inflicted by domestic or stray dogs.” It noted that “the persistence of the stray dog population has continued to imperil public safety in many parts of the country.”
The judgment stated that “particular vulnerability has been observed in institutional spaces… by virtue of their open design, congregation of persons, and frequent availability of edible waste.” It recorded that “reports from across India have demonstrated that such premises have repeatedly become scenes of dog-bite incidents, causing injuries to students, patients, staff and members of the public.”
The Court observed that “the underlying causes of this enduring menace are multifaceted, including uncontrolled reproduction of stray dogs owing to inadequate implementation of sterilisation programmes, improper disposal of food waste, absence of effective perimeter management, and lack of widespread public awareness.”
The Bench stated that “despite the statutory framework of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001 as amended in 2023, the practical outcomes have remained suboptimal.” It recorded that “data emerging from several States and Union Territories reveal a year-on-year increase in reported dog-bite cases, many occurring within or near public institutions.”
The Court observed that “the menace of dog bites, particularly in public and private institutions that serve as spaces of learning, healing and recreation, constitutes not merely a public-health challenge but a matter of human safety concern.” It stated that “the State and its instrumentalities bear an affirmative obligation to ensure that no citizen, least of all children, elderly people and patients, are exposed to preventable injury or disease within public premises.”
Finally, the Bench recorded that “the primary objective is to safeguard the fundamental right to life and safety of citizens, particularly children, students, patients, and sportspersons, while ensuring compliance with the principles embodied in the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.”
Considering the significant rise in dog-bite incidents within institutional areas such as schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots, and railway stations, the Court found it necessary to issue directions aimed at ensuring public safety, protecting health, and managing the stray dog population effectively.
“The State Governments and Union Territories shall through their respective local/ municipal authorities, within a period of two weeks, identify all Government and private educational institutions, hospitals (including district hospitals, primary health centres, and medical colleges), public sports complexes or stadia, bus stands/depots (including Inter-State Bus Terminals) and railway stations situated within their territorial limits.”
“The administrative heads of the aforesaid institutions shall through their respective local/ municipal authorities, under the overall supervision of the District Magistrate concerned, ensure that the premises are secured by adequate fencing, boundary walls, gates and such other structural or administrative measures as may be necessary to prevent the ingress of stray dogs. The said exercise shall be completed as soon as possible and preferably within a period of 8 weeks from today.”
“The management of every educational institution, hospital, sports complex, bus stand/depot (including Inter-State Bus Terminal) and railway station identified under Direction (A) shall designate a Nodal Officer responsible for the upkeep and cleanliness of the premises and for ensuring that stray dogs do not enter or inhabit the campus. The details of the said officer shall be displayed prominently at the entrance and notified to the jurisdictional municipal body/authority.”
“The local municipal authorities and panchayats shall carry out regular inspections, at least once in every three months, of all such premises to ensure that no stray dog habitats exist within or in the immediate vicinity of these institutions. Any lapse in this regard shall be viewed seriously, and responsibility shall be fixed upon the concerned municipal officials/administrative authorities.”
“It shall be the responsibility of the jurisdictional municipal body/authority to forthwith remove every stray dog found within the premises of an educational institution, hospital (public or private), sports complex, bus stand/depot (including Inter-State Bus Terminal) or railway station and to shift such animal/s to a designated shelter, after due sterilisation and vaccination, in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The stray dogs so picked up shall not be released back to the same location from which they were picked up. We have consciously directed the non-release of such stray dogs to the same location from which they were picked up, as permitting the same would frustrate the very effect of the directions issued to liberate such institutional areas from the presence of stray dogs.”
“All Government and private hospitals shall maintain a mandatory stock of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin at all times.”
“Every school and educational institution shall be directed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to conduct awareness sessions for students and staff on preventive behaviour around animals, first-aid in case of bites, and immediate reporting protocols.”
“The management of stadiums and sports complexes shall ensure the deployment of security or ground-keeping personnel specifically tasked with around the clock vigil against the entry or habitation of stray dogs.”
“The railway authorities having jurisdiction over the railway stations as well as the State transport corporations and municipal authorities having jurisdiction over bus stands, depots and Inter-State Bus Terminals, shall ensure that such public-transport premises/facilities are effectively secured and maintained so as to prevent the habitation or movement of stray dogs within their premises. Proper waste-management systems shall be implemented to eliminate food sources that attract animals, and regular inspections shall be conducted to detect and address the presence of stray dogs.”
“Animal Welfare Board of India shall, within four weeks, issue detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for prevention of dog bites and management of stray dogs in institutional premises (public or private) including but not limited to Government and private educational institutions, hospitals (including district hospitals, primary health centres, and medical colleges), and sports complexes or stadia, to be uniformly adopted across all States and Union Territories.”
“The aforesaid directions are being issued in continuation of and in furtherance of this Court’s order dated 22nd August, 2025, to ensure that the menace of stray dog attacks within institutional areas is curbed through effective preventive and administrative mechanisms. The primary objective is to safeguard the fundamental right to life and safety of citizens, particularly children, students, patients, and sportspersons, while ensuring compliance with the principles embodied in the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.”
“The Registry shall forthwith circulate a copy of this order to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories for onward transmission to all the necessary departments, as well as to the Secretaries of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports; Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; Ministry of Railways; Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Ministry of Rural Development; and Chairman, National Highways Authority of India, for immediate compliance.”
“The Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories shall file their affidavits of compliance before this Court within a period of 8 weeks from today, specifically indicating: (i) the steps taken to secure the premises of the educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands/depots (including Inter-State Bus Terminals) and railway stations; (ii) the mechanism put in place for regular oversight inspection, coordination and reporting with municipal authorities/Panchayati Raj institutions; and (iii) the availability of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin in all Government medical facilities.”
“The Union of India shall also ensure that the aforesaid directions are implemented in respect of all institutional areas falling under its administrative or supervisory control, including Central Government educational institutions, hospitals, colleges, universities, sports complexes and railway stations managed by or affiliated with Central Ministries or authorities… The Union of India, through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, shall file a comprehensive affidavit of compliance within a period of 8 weeks from today.”
“Animal Welfare Board of India shall also file a consolidated report indicating the nationwide status of sterilisation and vaccination drives, as well as the formulation of uniform Standard Operating Procedures for the prevention of dog-bite incidents in institutional areas/premises within 8 weeks from today.”
“The Registry shall forthwith implead the Urban Development Department and Rural Development Department of all States and Union Territories as well as the Union of India through their Principal/Chief Secretaries. Any reported non-compliance of any of the above directions shall be viewed very seriously and may invite penalties/consequences including but not limited to the initiation of suo moto contempt proceedings against the erring officials.”
“The matters shall be listed on 13th January, 2026 for further directions and for perusal of the compliance affidavits to be filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India, all the States and Union Territories and the Union of India.”
Case Title: In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”
Case Number: Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5 of 2025
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, Justice N.V. Anjaria
